16/11/2015

:00:00. > :00:00.borders and in the light of the events of the weekend, our force has

:00:00. > :00:07.strengthened its activity at the Channel ports and that is the right

:00:08. > :00:12.thing to do. Statement that the sectarian state for the homd

:00:13. > :00:16.Department, Secretary Theresa May. Thank you. With permission Lr

:00:17. > :00:20.Speaker, I would like to make a statement about the terrorist

:00:21. > :00:24.attacks in Paris, our response and the threat we face from terrorism

:00:25. > :00:29.and the United Kingdom. The full details of last Friday's horrific

:00:30. > :00:32.attack in Paris are still elerging, but at least 129 innocent pdople

:00:33. > :00:37.including at least one Brithsh national have been killed. Lore than

:00:38. > :00:42.352 injured, with 99 of those declared critical. At the n`mes of

:00:43. > :00:46.those brutally murdered become known, and we learn more about the

:00:47. > :00:49.appalling events of that night, our thoughts and prayers with all of

:00:50. > :00:56.those who have lost loved ones, suffered injuries, who are `ffected

:00:57. > :00:58.by these horrific events. These were coordinated attacks, designdd to

:00:59. > :01:03.inflict the maximum number of cavities on people who were simply

:01:04. > :01:09.enjoying their daily lives. Our way of life. Does killed includdd people

:01:10. > :01:13.from many countries across Durope and other countries around the

:01:14. > :01:16.world. The international investigation into the attacks is

:01:17. > :01:22.ongoing, but we know that Isil have claimed responsible the. Thhs is not

:01:23. > :01:28.the first time that I that they have struck in Europe. We have sden these

:01:29. > :01:35.attacks inspired by it in France, Belgium, and. The ongoing

:01:36. > :01:42.devastating violence in Syrha and Iraq. In June, 30 British n`tionals

:01:43. > :01:47.along with... Were killed bx gunmen. It looks increasingly likely

:01:48. > :01:51.that the Russian MetroJet plane which crashed two weeks ago was

:01:52. > :01:54.brought down by a bond. The scale of this latest attack and the degree of

:01:55. > :02:01.coordination and planning ldave us with a little doubt that thd threat

:02:02. > :02:05.is evolving. In the UK, the threat level set by the independent joint

:02:06. > :02:09.terrorism analysis centre rdmained at severe. Meaning an attack is

:02:10. > :02:13.highly likely that he could occur without warning. In the past months,

:02:14. > :02:18.a number of serious products have been disrupted here in the TK. Over

:02:19. > :02:25.750 people have got to travdl to Syria and Iraq and half of those

:02:26. > :02:27.have returned. Our enforcemdnt and security intelligent agencids are

:02:28. > :02:31.working constantly day and night to keep the people of this country safe

:02:32. > :02:34.and secure. The government hs taking all the necessary steps to dnsure

:02:35. > :02:40.they have the powers, capabhlities, and resources they need. As soon as

:02:41. > :02:44.the attacks took place, we took steps to maintain the securhty of

:02:45. > :02:47.the UK. The police have increased their presence on some stredts in

:02:48. > :02:53.some locations, and they will be intensifying their approach in big

:02:54. > :02:57.cities. Officers are working closely with London's communities and

:02:58. > :03:03.businesses to provide reasstrance. Border force has intensified checks

:03:04. > :03:07.on people, goods, and others entering the UK from the continent

:03:08. > :03:11.and elsewhere. Additionally, in order to help French authorhties

:03:12. > :03:14.secure their own border, border force and police have been

:03:15. > :03:18.undertaking additional targdted security checks against passengers

:03:19. > :03:21.and vehicles travelling to `nd from France, by maritime and real ports,

:03:22. > :03:27.and by a number of airports across the country. Yesterday I ch`ired a

:03:28. > :03:31.member that I meeting of cobra to determine our sponsored. Is a set in

:03:32. > :03:34.a statement afterwards, UK police and security forces are working

:03:35. > :03:38.extremely closely with the French and Belgian counterparts to identify

:03:39. > :03:44.all those involved and purste anyone who may have been involved with

:03:45. > :03:47.these barbaric attacks. Members will be aware that numbers of arrests

:03:48. > :03:52.have been made in France ovdr the last 24 hours. As I informed the

:03:53. > :03:57.House about the events in P`ris in January, we have held long detailed

:03:58. > :04:03.plans to do with these attacks in the UK. Since the attacks in Mumbai

:04:04. > :04:05.in 2008, we have improved otr police firearms response, building the

:04:06. > :04:10.capability of our police and the speed of our military response. The

:04:11. > :04:13.emergency services have also improved their preparedness for

:04:14. > :04:19.dealing specifically with m`rauding gunmen attacked. Specialist joint

:04:20. > :04:21.police and fire teams are now placed at important locations across

:04:22. > :04:27.England with equivalents in Scotland and Wales. This summer, polhce and

:04:28. > :04:31.emergency services tested this response as part of a major

:04:32. > :04:35.counterterrorism exercise. @s I have told the House previously, the

:04:36. > :04:38.police can call upon appropriate military response when requhred

:04:39. > :04:43.across the country. Neverthdless, in light of events in France, ht is

:04:44. > :04:47.right that we should review our response to firearms attacks and are

:04:48. > :04:52.doing so urgently to ensure any lessons are learned. The UK has some

:04:53. > :04:57.of the toughest firearms laws in the world. This sort of weaponrx used in

:04:58. > :05:02.Paris in January and those that appear to have been used last Friday

:05:03. > :05:07.are not readily available in the UK. We must therefore focus on tackling

:05:08. > :05:09.firearms entering and moving throughout the EU and ensurhng that

:05:10. > :05:16.we have the right capabilithes at the UK border to detect firdarms

:05:17. > :05:19.being smuggled in. This Friday I will attend an extraordinarx meeting

:05:20. > :05:23.with the Justice and home affairs Council where I will press the need

:05:24. > :05:28.for greater information sharing passage and name records, and action

:05:29. > :05:32.on firearms. In the UK we h`ve seen tough legislation work, so we want

:05:33. > :05:35.to see action taken to make a difference to the availabilhty of

:05:36. > :05:40.firearms in Europe, particularly assault rifles. Mr Speaker, it is

:05:41. > :05:43.imperative that Europe pulls together to defeat this thrdat.

:05:44. > :05:47.France is one of our oldest allies and we worked very closely with them

:05:48. > :05:53.on issues of national terrorism Yesterday I spoke to my

:05:54. > :05:58.counterpart, to offer our ddepest condolences to France. And to make

:05:59. > :06:02.clear that the UK stands re`dy to provide any additional support and

:06:03. > :06:07.assistance. I am very grateful to the Minister and the French for

:06:08. > :06:12.maintaining a police presence during a difficult time. I have also spoken

:06:13. > :06:16.to the Belgian Interior Minhster to offer our assistance. The House will

:06:17. > :06:20.also know that the Prime Minister is today at the G20 in Turkey where he

:06:21. > :06:24.is urgently speaking with hdads of state about the crisis in Sxria He

:06:25. > :06:31.will make a statement to thhs house tomorrow. Since 2010, the government

:06:32. > :06:34.has undertaken significant work to strengthen our response to the

:06:35. > :06:41.threats we face by terrorisl. In 2014, we class legislation to

:06:42. > :06:44.enforce the intelligent agencies could continue to ask the

:06:45. > :06:48.information they needed. Whhle this does not expire until the end of

:06:49. > :06:55.2016, last week we published the draft investigator he -- thhs bill

:06:56. > :07:00.will improve the overall safeguards that agencies use of the powers

:07:01. > :07:02.with the tools to keep us s`fe. Following a terrorist attack we

:07:03. > :07:06.always consider the legal powers would have to keep our country

:07:07. > :07:10.secure but it is important `t this landmark legislation undergoes

:07:11. > :07:14.proper parliamentary scrutiny. Earlier this year the

:07:15. > :07:18.counterterrorism act passed in the law which included measures to deal

:07:19. > :07:25.specifically with the... To prevent radicalisation. In and closd a power

:07:26. > :07:29.to seize the passports of pdople travelling to engage in terrorism

:07:30. > :07:32.overseas, extends our ability to refuse airlines the authority to

:07:33. > :07:39.carry people to the UK who pose a risk, and includes a statutory duty

:07:40. > :07:42.for a wide range of public bodies. Through our existing prevention

:07:43. > :07:47.programmes, we are identifyhng people at risk and help thel turn

:07:48. > :07:49.their lives around. Our channel process in particular engagds

:07:50. > :07:52.vulnerable people in conversations to prevent them from being drawn

:07:53. > :07:57.further into extremism or vholent attacks. Mr Speaker, the police and

:07:58. > :08:02.security intelligence agencx is doing an incredible job to give the

:08:03. > :08:05.people of this country safe. Their work often goes unseen and

:08:06. > :08:11.unrecognised. But we owe thdm an enormous debt of gratitude. Since

:08:12. > :08:13.2010, we have protected the counterterrorism policing btdget and

:08:14. > :08:18.as part of the budget earlidr this year, my right honourable friend

:08:19. > :08:22.confirmed that counterterrorism spent across government would be

:08:23. > :08:26.protected across the whole spending review. We have announced today that

:08:27. > :08:31.we will go further. And through strategic defence and securhty

:08:32. > :08:34.review, we will make new funding available to the security

:08:35. > :08:40.intelligence agencies to provide for an additional 1900 officers, an

:08:41. > :08:44.increase of 15%, at MI-5, and my six and GC HQ to better respond to the

:08:45. > :08:48.threat we face from international terrorism, cyber attacks and other

:08:49. > :08:52.global risks. We will also boost aviation security. That is why the

:08:53. > :08:57.Prime Minister has ordered ` rapid review of security of a number of

:08:58. > :09:01.airports around the world. @gency specialists will conduct assessments

:09:02. > :09:04.over the next two months and locations in North Africa and the

:09:05. > :09:08.Middle East in particular. This will follow measures that the US put in

:09:09. > :09:11.place at a number of potenthally vulnerable airports of the last

:09:12. > :09:16.year. Stats which will be rdviewed that they go far enough. Talara at

:09:17. > :09:20.the national Security Counchl, we will discuss the government's policy

:09:21. > :09:22.on aviation security, and the four-day proposal to double

:09:23. > :09:28.government spending on aviation security over this Parliament. Mr

:09:29. > :09:31.Speaker, the events in Paris have shocked and appalled people around

:09:32. > :09:38.the world. In front, it will have queued up to donate lead, lhght

:09:39. > :09:42.candles and laid flowers. In Britain, Australia, Canada, Brazil,

:09:43. > :09:48.and many other countries, iconic landmarks and buildings havd been

:09:49. > :09:51.lit in the colours of the French. People of all faiths have condemned

:09:52. > :09:56.the violence and Muslims and indeed Muslims worldwide has said very

:09:57. > :10:01.clearly that these events are abhorrent. The attacks have nothing

:10:02. > :10:04.to do with Islam, which has followed peacefully by millions of pdople

:10:05. > :10:11.around the world. The terrorists seek to divide us and to destroy our

:10:12. > :10:15.way of life. But theirs is `n empty and perverted and murderous

:10:16. > :10:23.ideology. They represent no one and they will fail. France gravds, but

:10:24. > :10:26.she does not grieve alone. People of all faiths, all nationalitids, and

:10:27. > :10:35.all backgrounds around the world are with you. And together, we will

:10:36. > :10:37.defeat them. Before I called the shadow home secretary, the House

:10:38. > :10:43.will wish to know that on the half of the House of Commons, I will be

:10:44. > :10:55.conveying our heartfelt sincerity is, ... Our thoughts today `re with

:10:56. > :10:59.our colleagues in Paris. Th`nk you Mr Speaker, and can I strongly

:11:00. > :11:04.welcome the homesick unitarx state and many of these steps that she has

:11:05. > :11:08.just announced. As we have come to expect, she has acted quickly and

:11:09. > :11:13.with clarity, and she will have our support and taking the action needed

:11:14. > :11:18.to protect the public here `nd across Europe. Our thoughts today

:11:19. > :11:23.are primarily with the friends, families, loved ones, of those

:11:24. > :11:28.killed or injured in Paris. These horrific attacks on innocent people

:11:29. > :11:32.at the home secretary said, many young people, enjoying a night out

:11:33. > :11:39.were not only an attack on France, but on a way of life we all share,

:11:40. > :11:43.our freedoms and mobile cultural societies, and our shared v`lues,

:11:44. > :11:48.those responsible want to intimidate us. We will not let them succeed. We

:11:49. > :11:53.stand in solidarity with thd people of Paris and all the citizens of

:11:54. > :11:59.France. The home Secretary was right to praise that British intelligence

:12:00. > :12:02.and security services who work so tirelessly to keep us safe. Was what

:12:03. > :12:07.they do goes unseen and unrdported, but as they know, we have foiled

:12:08. > :12:12.many attacks here in recent times, they deserve our support and

:12:13. > :12:19.gratitude. Two things are apparent from recent events, first, Hsil have

:12:20. > :12:23.demonstrated that they have the capacity to hit mainland Europe and

:12:24. > :12:29.caused my them widespread casualties. Second, it is an

:12:30. > :12:34.escalation of intent. Alongside the parents of attacks, we have seed the

:12:35. > :12:38.downing of the Russian airlhner and of course the bombings in Bdirut,

:12:39. > :12:42.and the victims of both of those should be in our thoughts at this

:12:43. > :12:46.time. This requires the international community to formulate

:12:47. > :12:51.an urgent and effective response. Let me start with the circulstance

:12:52. > :12:55.of the attack. What this atrocity reveals is how an attack on one

:12:56. > :12:59.member state can be planned and coordinated in another and by

:13:00. > :13:03.individuals who may not be known to the domestic security services of

:13:04. > :13:07.that state where the attack took place. And I asked the home

:13:08. > :13:10.Secretary, what arrangements are already in place for cooper`tion

:13:11. > :13:15.between security services across Europe, can those arrangements be

:13:16. > :13:19.strengthened in the light of this, and is there greater assist`nce that

:13:20. > :13:24.can be provided between and across Europe between series by security

:13:25. > :13:30.services. Let me turn to border security. The Schengen agredment is

:13:31. > :13:35.of course primarily a matter for the countries who are participants to

:13:36. > :13:40.it, but it does impact upon our own border security. While any changes

:13:41. > :13:44.were made and matter for participants, does the government

:13:45. > :13:47.have a review view on the w`y the agreement is operating and `re they

:13:48. > :13:53.making representations to those Member States? To the home secretary

:13:54. > :13:58.say more about what she thinks the impact of the Schengen agredment is

:13:59. > :14:02.on UK Borders? Concerns havd been raised in resent days about people

:14:03. > :14:05.travelling across Europe in cars in light of these attacks, and that

:14:06. > :14:10.becomes particularly relevant in respect to the agreement. She said

:14:11. > :14:15.security there will be strengthened. Can she ensure the House th`t cars

:14:16. > :14:17.coming to the Channel Tunnel will be subject to the same securitx checks

:14:18. > :14:26.as passengers coming through airports and indeed using Etro

:14:27. > :14:29.star? Is she confident that proper arrangements are in place at all

:14:30. > :14:34.regional airports, we welcole what she said about improving airport

:14:35. > :14:37.security, but our regional `irports in such a strong enough poshtion to

:14:38. > :14:43.deal with the challenges th`t they face? Mr Speaker, let me turn to

:14:44. > :14:46.refugee policy. It is of cotrse essential to remember all the

:14:47. > :14:51.micro-member that does fling are fleeing from the horrors of Isil

:14:52. > :14:55.themselves. It is possible that the attackers in tears came through the

:14:56. > :14:59.refugee route and it cannot be dismissed that this might bd an

:15:00. > :15:03.attempt to undermine public confidence in Europe in welcoming

:15:04. > :15:10.genuine refugees into our country. The fact that Europe is prepared to

:15:11. > :15:14.welcome people into this cotntry is a wonderful validation of otr own

:15:15. > :15:19.values and we must not be ddflected from that. But it does raisd issues,

:15:20. > :15:23.first, and home secretary s`y more about what we're doing to strengthen

:15:24. > :15:26.the processing of refugees `nd indeed the documentation of refugees

:15:27. > :15:30.as they arrive in Europe so that there is an up-to-date database

:15:31. > :15:34.maintained and secondly, can she say whether or not it would help

:15:35. > :15:37.security services for the information to be quickly shared

:15:38. > :15:43.across the security services around Europe so that individuals can be

:15:44. > :15:47.identified that pose a risk. Can she say anything about reassuring the

:15:48. > :15:52.public about the high-profile event coming up, particularly the football

:15:53. > :15:56.match versus France this wedk? Vinci reassure the public that thd

:15:57. > :16:00.necessary security measures are in place to make sure this can take

:16:01. > :16:04.place safely? To mention thd Muslim community. And she is absolttely

:16:05. > :16:09.right to say the evil ideology we see from Isil is not a refldction of

:16:10. > :16:12.true Islam, in fact it is a perversion of it, but the community

:16:13. > :16:16.in this country will be feeling an extra sense of nervousness right

:16:17. > :16:23.now. What more can she say to reassure them and ensure th`t the

:16:24. > :16:27.law-abiding Muslim communitx have our full support in dealing with the

:16:28. > :16:32.threat. Finally Mr Speaker, let me turn to the powers funding of the

:16:33. > :16:36.intelligent security servicds and the police. Given the comments

:16:37. > :16:42.earlier today, that she intdnds a need for the Investigatory Powers

:16:43. > :16:45.Bill and can she say a little more about that? We welcome the loney she

:16:46. > :16:49.has enough today for counterterrorism. But I would ask

:16:50. > :16:56.her not to seat count, counterterrorism and isolathon from

:16:57. > :17:01.a security budget. She will know the Metropolitan police said last week

:17:02. > :17:05.that cuts about 10% budget would hamper his ability to fight

:17:06. > :17:09.terrorism on the streets of London. Today Ian Blair has said th`t the

:17:10. > :17:14.loss of police community support officers from our streets would be

:17:15. > :17:17.an absolute disaster in his words. In questions before this, she said

:17:18. > :17:20.it was not about the numbers of police but the quality. Of course it

:17:21. > :17:23.is about the quality of what they do, but it is about coveragd on the

:17:24. > :17:28.ground as well. They have bden talking about 25% cuts to the police

:17:29. > :17:31.budget, can she assured the House today that both she and the

:17:32. > :17:35.Chancellor will revisit those assumptions by the police btdget in

:17:36. > :17:39.light of what has happened `nd ensure the police have the funding

:17:40. > :17:43.they need to do the job? Entry was a Mr Speaker, this is the single

:17:44. > :17:48.biggest challenge of our generation. We need to avoid them a kned jerk

:17:49. > :17:52.reaction but we must not shx away from action, we must decide with

:17:53. > :17:56.resolve and strength and judgement and build consensus is the stronger

:17:57. > :18:04.we are together, the quicker we will defeat this threat. And the aim of

:18:05. > :18:06.Isil is to divide. To dividd our communities, to divide us

:18:07. > :18:11.politically, and to divide ts from our European partners with whom we

:18:12. > :18:16.share common values. Of the message goes out today Mr Speaker, we will

:18:17. > :18:20.not let them prevail. Let us say clearly today that they will not

:18:21. > :18:24.succeed, that we will stand as one in our communities, as a cotntry,

:18:25. > :18:28.and united with our European partners. Can I think the rhght

:18:29. > :18:32.honourable gentleman for thd remarks he has made, thank him for the

:18:33. > :18:37.support he has shown for thd measures and measures we have taken

:18:38. > :18:40.so far. Thank you for the clear message we have heard from the whole

:18:41. > :18:44.of this house that we condeln the attacks that took place in Paris and

:18:45. > :18:51.that the terrorists will not win and we will defeat them. I think him

:18:52. > :18:54.also for the support he gavd the security intelligence agenches which

:18:55. > :18:58.I said earlier are unseen and unrecognised, but are doing such an

:18:59. > :19:03.important job for us day by day He was a right to say that although we

:19:04. > :19:05.are currently focused on thd pad, attacks in Paris, of course there

:19:06. > :19:08.have been a number of attacks conducted in the name of Ishl in

:19:09. > :19:14.other places around the world our thoughts are with their with all of

:19:15. > :19:18.those who had been the victhm of attacks of terrorist attacks. In

:19:19. > :19:22.that, he mentioned the Muslhm community here in the UK. Wd should

:19:23. > :19:26.never forget that if you look across the world, the largest numbdr of

:19:27. > :19:31.people who have been killed by terrorists in various countries are

:19:32. > :19:34.a chart themselves Muslim. Hs not a -- it is a peaceful religion,

:19:35. > :19:39.practiced by millions of people around the world, they have already

:19:40. > :19:43.risen up in communities herd in the UK and in France and elsewhdre and

:19:44. > :19:48.said these are attacks that are not in our name. We look forward to

:19:49. > :19:51.working further with people in the Muslim community around the United

:19:52. > :19:56.Kingdom to help those mainstream voices to come forward and to be

:19:57. > :20:02.heard. But it is also important as my honourable friend indicated in

:20:03. > :20:07.home office questions, that we asked the police to separately iddntified

:20:08. > :20:10.Muslim hate crimes that we can see the nature and extent of th`t

:20:11. > :20:16.because it has been increashng recently in recent years as has

:20:17. > :20:20.anti-Semitic incidents. A considerable amount of coopdration

:20:21. > :20:23.exists between services and police across the European Union, we will

:20:24. > :20:28.of course be looking to see what further can be done, I have offered

:20:29. > :20:32.us to my assistance in the wake of the attacks to both my French

:20:33. > :20:36.counterpart and my Belgian counterpart, but I would expect this

:20:37. > :20:39.cooperation and sharing of intelligence to be a subject we will

:20:40. > :20:44.be considering at the Justice home affairs Council. What happens in

:20:45. > :20:49.Shengen is for nominally a latter for those in the agreement `nd we

:20:50. > :20:55.are not. We have been working with countries who are in Shengen to

:20:56. > :20:58.strengthen our borders and we do look at ensuring the necess`ry

:20:59. > :21:02.processing and documentation of people coming in as migrants does

:21:03. > :21:06.take place at those external borders, and that is import`nt

:21:07. > :21:11.because of course as we know, many of the migrants are in actu`lly

:21:12. > :21:14.refugees, they are illegal dconomic migrants and it is doubly ilportant

:21:15. > :21:18.to be able to ensure that pdople can be returned when they have no right

:21:19. > :21:22.to be in Europe. We are working on those hotspots at the external

:21:23. > :21:28.borders and also have purport not provided some capability from the UK

:21:29. > :21:31.to help debrief people coming through, migrants coming through

:21:32. > :21:34.these routes so that we can get a better understanding of the roots

:21:35. > :21:38.they are using and what is happening a Borders. The right honour`ble

:21:39. > :21:41.gentleman mentioned being in France football match, I think it hs

:21:42. > :21:45.important that this mask is important that this match goes

:21:46. > :21:49.ahead, I think it is a signdd but did two countries coming together in

:21:50. > :21:53.a friendly activity in this way I have spoken with the police and they

:21:54. > :21:56.will of course be ensuring that there are appropriate measures in

:21:57. > :22:00.place in relation to security of that particular match and of course

:22:01. > :22:05.there are decisions for the police to take, on the up question of the

:22:06. > :22:09.IP bill, it is right that at all times we reviewed the timing of what

:22:10. > :22:13.we do in terms of legislation and the timing of that legislathon, but

:22:14. > :22:17.it isn't significant bill and I think it is right that it is given

:22:18. > :22:22.proper scrutiny in Parliament. On the issue of national securhty and

:22:23. > :22:26.policing, I would say this of course, people very often think of

:22:27. > :22:29.national security enters thd Justice security and intelligence agency,

:22:30. > :22:33.but of course there are othdr terrorism policing and policing more

:22:34. > :22:37.generally, but also other aspects of what is done, and areas of the home

:22:38. > :22:40.office in terms of order security which are also an important part of

:22:41. > :22:50.our national security and wd will be looking at these issues. Evdnts in

:22:51. > :22:54.Paris have exposed the truth about Isis and the fellow jihadists, and

:22:55. > :23:00.that they hate us, not becatse of what we do, but because of what we

:23:01. > :23:03.are. They hate our history, our identity, and our values. Does my

:23:04. > :23:09.right honourable friend agrded that those who say that if we le`ve them

:23:10. > :23:14.alone they will leave us alone are peddling a dangerous and de`dly

:23:15. > :23:18.deception? I think my right honourable friend makes a vdry

:23:19. > :23:26.important point. It is quitd clear that those at attacks in Paris and

:23:27. > :23:31.elsewhere that this poisonots ideology is an ideology which is

:23:32. > :23:35.against the way in which thd West conducts its life. Be sort of lives

:23:36. > :23:39.we lead and the sort of strtctures we have in the West. And indeed

:23:40. > :23:43.elsewhere in other parts of the world. He is absolutely right that

:23:44. > :23:47.it is not the case that if we take no action, then they will t`ke no

:23:48. > :23:51.action against us, it is very clear they have evil intent and s`dly as

:23:52. > :23:58.we saw on Friday, they have put that evil intent into practice. Thank you

:23:59. > :24:01.Mr Speaker. I would like to welcome the home Secretary statement and

:24:02. > :24:06.thank her for that. I would also like to associate myself and the

:24:07. > :24:11.comments of others and grathtude for those who keep us safe. Whether the

:24:12. > :24:14.police or intelligence servhces As irony said, I would like to add

:24:15. > :24:21.condolences of those on these benches to the rest of the House. I

:24:22. > :24:23.would like to reiterate what the Scotland's for Spencer said, our

:24:24. > :24:27.thoughts and prayers and solidarity are with Paris and France. @fter

:24:28. > :24:31.this unspeakably awful and deeply shocking event. Mr Speaker, it is

:24:32. > :24:36.only right that we should rdview mitres and the light of these events

:24:37. > :24:42.and be in a position to givd people the insurance they require to it get

:24:43. > :24:45.their safety. I welcome what the home secretary has already said in

:24:46. > :24:49.relation to the Muslim commtnity, who are highly valued and integral

:24:50. > :24:51.part of Scottish and United Kingdom's society, with the home

:24:52. > :24:54.Secretary sure me that she will stand alongside the Scottish

:24:55. > :25:02.government in preventing thdse events from destroying or affecting

:25:03. > :25:06.that community? I also appl`ud the fact that the home secretarx seems

:25:07. > :25:11.determined -- determined to not knee jerk or consider response to these

:25:12. > :25:22.atrocities and response and heard usual measured matters. ... In

:25:23. > :25:25.relation to this atrocity. The home Secretary has said this alrdady

:25:26. > :25:31.though she -- will she confhrm that there'll be no curtailments of the

:25:32. > :25:34.next time already allocated for the scrutiny of the bill and will she

:25:35. > :25:40.stand by her previous assurdr assurances that adequate tile will

:25:41. > :25:47.be allocated for passage of the bill. As regard to refugees, will

:25:48. > :25:51.she confirm that the home office Artie have in place robust screening

:25:52. > :25:56.processes and that she will remain resolved to protect and givd these

:25:57. > :26:00.people... Finally briefly, she mention increased security `t a

:26:01. > :26:02.measure of airports. And shd confirm that all airports are the stbject of

:26:03. > :26:13.such measures? I think the honourable Lady for her

:26:14. > :26:17.joining in the condemnation as she had earlier of the Friday attacks.

:26:18. > :26:23.She is right to say that we should all across the United Kingdom stand

:26:24. > :26:27.united in the condemnation of those attacks, and unite one commtnity

:26:28. > :26:31.with another to ensure that... None of us want to see any sort of

:26:32. > :26:34.backlash against any partictlar part of any community within the United

:26:35. > :26:38.Kingdom as a result of the `ttacks that took place. Is important that

:26:39. > :26:42.we do not reassurance, that we are one nation, the United Kingdom,

:26:43. > :26:47.together standing against the terrible barbarity of these

:26:48. > :26:51.terrorists. In terms of the investigatory Powers Bill, `s they

:26:52. > :26:55.invest -- said my statement, as we look terrorism legislation hn every

:26:56. > :26:59.state, we are always reviewhng what is necessary and the timing of that.

:27:00. > :27:03.Is a significant bill, and ht is right that it should be givdn proper

:27:04. > :27:10.scrutiny. In relation to thd screen of refugees, yes there are processes

:27:11. > :27:14.in place, to a twofold procdss. . Not be used in HR who are for

:27:15. > :27:21.refugees to the home office for resettlement in the UK, unddrtake

:27:22. > :27:24.screening which includes biometric interviews, and then there hs a

:27:25. > :27:30.further level that is undertaken by the home office in relation to

:27:31. > :27:38.further by metrics and further security checks for the indhviduals

:27:39. > :27:42.concerned. This a threat and its underlying ideology is going to have

:27:43. > :27:46.to be combated for many years, but this task is going to be a luch more

:27:47. > :27:50.difficult if this ideology continues to have territory under its control

:27:51. > :27:55.from which to project these attacks on us. As well as on other countries

:27:56. > :28:02.as copy of the Prime Ministdr made clear this morning, defeating Isil

:28:03. > :28:06.in Syria requires a transithon out of the Syrian Civil War, and that

:28:07. > :28:11.she welcomed the fact that Hndiana over the course over the last two

:28:12. > :28:16.weeks, finally the internathonal community seems to be getting its

:28:17. > :28:20.collect back together? He is right that we do need to see a solution, a

:28:21. > :28:24.resolution of the conflict that is taking place in Syria, and that

:28:25. > :28:30.transition that he is referring to is important. I am pleased to see

:28:31. > :28:34.that the talks are but a desperate dressing and Yannick. I'm stre that

:28:35. > :28:38.everyone in this house was to see those talks successful, wants to see

:28:39. > :28:43.an end to the conflict and barbarity that is taking place in Syrha.

:28:44. > :28:51.Indeed, it is being undertaken by Isil elsewhere. Can I welcole the

:28:52. > :28:55.home Secretary's statement on the unity of the front benches `nd. We

:28:56. > :29:00.are the most multicultural country in the world, and we should be proud

:29:01. > :29:05.of this. That is why engagelent with community is so important. On

:29:06. > :29:08.airport security, it is not just our airport, because British citizens

:29:09. > :29:13.travelled to North Africa and other holiday destinations. If thdre was a

:29:14. > :29:18.request from these countries that we supplied equipment to help them

:29:19. > :29:23.would we be willing to provhde that? In respect to the sharing of

:29:24. > :29:27.information, which country hs preventing the use of passenger

:29:28. > :29:34.recognition, and how can he convince them to change their minds with

:29:35. > :29:38.When will we be ready to john a new system? In relation to the puestion

:29:39. > :29:43.about Equus -- Airport security the gentleman is right that airport

:29:44. > :29:46.security in airports around the world where British travelldrs

:29:47. > :29:51.travel from is important to us. Stabbing a number of occasions where

:29:52. > :29:53.we have done exactly what hd says an offered equipment or indeed

:29:54. > :29:57.medicament and available to other airports around the world to

:29:58. > :30:03.increase their level of sectrity. As I said in my statement, and exercise

:30:04. > :30:06.is now being undertaken to look a number of airports, particularly in

:30:07. > :30:11.the Middle East and North Africa, at the security arrangements at this

:30:12. > :30:17.particular airports. Is right that we do that, to ensure that we have

:30:18. > :30:20.that confidence level of security that is being provided in rdlation

:30:21. > :30:28.to those who are travelling to those airports. No coherent milit`ry

:30:29. > :30:36.strategy against Isil in Syria can be formulated at they get government

:30:37. > :30:43.faces up to the unpleasant fact that will have to have donated efforts

:30:44. > :30:46.with Russia. With a useful first step before cooperation between the

:30:47. > :30:53.security services in this country, and the Russian security services in

:30:54. > :31:01.this field, despite our resdrvations and concerns about Russia's

:31:02. > :31:05.behaviour in other parts of Europe. I say to my honourable friend that

:31:06. > :31:09.of course talks have been t`king place in the G20, with a nulber of

:31:10. > :31:12.international leaders about the question of Syria, and what action

:31:13. > :31:18.needs to be taken in relation to Syria and to future governmdnts of

:31:19. > :31:21.that country, and I look forward to the outcome of those partictlar

:31:22. > :31:25.talks. This is important th`t we do ensure that every effort is being

:31:26. > :31:30.made, that there can be a rdsolution to the conflict in Syria. B`illy

:31:31. > :31:33.because of the impact that that can have on Isil, but also becatse of

:31:34. > :31:36.the millions of Syria in Syria. Bailly because of the impact that

:31:37. > :31:41.that can have on Isil, but `lso because of the millions of Syrians

:31:42. > :31:45.who have. I welcome the homd secretary's his solidarity with the

:31:46. > :31:50.people of Paris in the face of such terrible loss, and the barb`ric

:31:51. > :31:54.assault on our values. I also welcome the increase in resource and

:31:55. > :31:58.staffing in the security intelligence agencies to do so much

:31:59. > :32:02.work to keep us safe. Character also to have the same approach to the

:32:03. > :32:07.core policing, particularly around neighbourhood policing, bec`use she

:32:08. > :32:12.will know the intervention, and also the local intelligence work that

:32:13. > :32:20.they do help stop the tailored bachelors of Mohammed solid is also

:32:21. > :32:25.an assay performance -- important. She makes the point that thhs is a

:32:26. > :32:29.battle for hearts and minds of. As she will be aware, we have watched

:32:30. > :32:34.catechumens and the strategx and we wish to work in accordance nation

:32:35. > :32:39.with agencies across the cotntry to promote the knowledge that we share.

:32:40. > :32:43.We tell is the ideology that seeks to divide us, and it is important

:32:44. > :32:46.that that work is undertaken in a whole variety of ways. One of the

:32:47. > :32:50.concerns that people in manx communities have had about some of

:32:51. > :32:54.the work has been precisely that they have felt that his been too

:32:55. > :32:57.much in a security space, and not enough about integration and

:32:58. > :33:00.cohesion of communities. Is absolutely right that our counter

:33:01. > :33:03.activism work that we are undertaking would be in partnership

:33:04. > :33:08.with people within communithes working together to promote cohesive

:33:09. > :33:15.communities and to promote mainstream voices. Can she dxplain

:33:16. > :33:21.why the government, for four months, has blocked the debate on the floor

:33:22. > :33:24.of the house on the European agenda on immigration, refugee smuggling,

:33:25. > :33:29.and relocation which has bedn demanded by the European data

:33:30. > :33:33.committee? Wishing you with me and other MPs to review rejection by the

:33:34. > :33:38.government on the counterterrorism bill on the 6th of January, which

:33:39. > :33:46.have riveted EKG houses frol returning to the UK? And finally to

:33:47. > :33:50.discuss the disproportionatd... Including the charter of fundamental

:33:51. > :33:55.rights that endanger human right, overwriting the Supreme Court and

:33:56. > :34:03.our parliament. European unhon often undermines it. I said to my

:34:04. > :34:06.honourable friend that I understand they should be possible that in the

:34:07. > :34:09.not-too-distant future we should see debates on the floor of this house

:34:10. > :34:14.on matters that he has raisdd. I would also say to my honour`ble

:34:15. > :34:20.friend than the counterterrorism and security act earlier this ydar, we

:34:21. > :34:24.did undertake and have a nulber of powers in relation to those who

:34:25. > :34:30.would travel to Syria or who are returning from Syria. That has

:34:31. > :34:33.increased the powers of intdlligence aid agencies. , dating all

:34:34. > :34:52.interested colleagues will require great brevity. We can, as so often,

:34:53. > :34:56.delay... The home secretary knows better than most but so most people

:34:57. > :35:02.that successful counterterrorism depends on information gathdred by

:35:03. > :35:06.neighbourhood policing, and by cutting back truly important link,

:35:07. > :35:12.her intelligence officers whll not bring about the results that she

:35:13. > :35:18.desires. Of course, I have to say to the lady that the counterterrorism

:35:19. > :35:22.work depends on the gathering of intelligence. That intelligdnce is

:35:23. > :35:27.gathered in a whole variety of ways. He as you will be aware and has been

:35:28. > :35:31.indicated in oral questions earlier, if you look at the percentage of

:35:32. > :35:33.police officers who are involved in violent policing, it has done of

:35:34. > :35:40.police officers who are involved in violent policing, it had gone over

:35:41. > :35:47.the with my friend to join le in paying tribute to Nick Alex`nder who

:35:48. > :35:50.was tragically killed... And can she also enter this house that she will

:35:51. > :35:53.do all that she can to work with the French authorities to bring the

:35:54. > :36:02.perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice? Ice and rug with my

:36:03. > :36:06.honourable friend in sending our condolences to the family and

:36:07. > :36:09.friends of the constituents who was brutally murder in the attack that

:36:10. > :36:13.took place in Paris last ye`r. Sunday was just went about his

:36:14. > :36:19.business, a business which was providing enjoyment and fun to other

:36:20. > :36:22.people, particularly to young people. He was known down in this

:36:23. > :36:26.way, and I can give my friend absolute assurance that he got - we

:36:27. > :36:28.are given every assistant that we can to the French authoritids and

:36:29. > :36:34.indeed to others in Europe hn ensuring that we can bring those who

:36:35. > :36:39.were any part of the progression in his back -- attack to justice. I

:36:40. > :36:43.live near Paris, and spend lany evenings in the area that w`s

:36:44. > :36:57.desecrated in Friday night. To my friend friends, I state... FRENCH.

:36:58. > :37:04.I'm sure the Secretary of State would join me in the response of a

:37:05. > :37:06.small group must not be too poppy drawbridge on the hundreds of

:37:07. > :37:11.thousands of juror genuine cheering refugees who are fleeing in terror

:37:12. > :37:19.similar of that info John T`ras -- Paris on Friday. The gentlelan is

:37:20. > :37:23.right. In a number of questhons I have responded in relation to the

:37:24. > :37:26.issue of the United Kingdom's own plans to bring in a number of

:37:27. > :37:31.steering refugees. Is right that we continue to do that as I have

:37:32. > :37:34.indicated. We have security arrangements, and there are many

:37:35. > :37:37.people who have been displaced as a result of the barbarity that has

:37:38. > :37:44.taken place in Syria, displ`ced from their homes who need protection who

:37:45. > :37:54.need assistance. We stand rdady to play our part as indicated. May I

:37:55. > :37:59.too welcome the meeting between the Prime Minister and President Putin

:38:00. > :38:08.as a conservative step towards the resolution of the hearing more. --

:38:09. > :38:13.Syrian war. Well my friend not rude to me that the events in Paris

:38:14. > :38:17.illustrates the need to provide our intelligence services all the powers

:38:18. > :38:24.that they need in order to deal with us to keep our people safe from

:38:25. > :38:27.depraved Islamic fundamentalists? I absolutely agree with my honourable

:38:28. > :38:42.friend, and I am sure the m`jority of the public arena.

:38:43. > :38:48.Landscapers attention that one of the perpetrators of these attacks

:38:49. > :38:54.have previously been on the periphery of any inquiry th`t the

:38:55. > :39:01.security service had been c`rried out. We welcome the fact th`t she

:39:02. > :39:09.will be attending the meeting of of the Justice Council on Frid`y. Was

:39:10. > :39:13.she raises the issue of shared information, was she also t`lked

:39:14. > :39:18.about the shared information on the sorts of cases, because every can't

:39:19. > :39:24.spot them earlier, and we c`nnot spot them before the crime hs

:39:25. > :39:29.committed. He makes an important point, and in looking at thdse

:39:30. > :39:33.issues as far as possible wd wish to be able to identify people `t before

:39:34. > :39:37.they can conduct an attack. This ties in with not just

:39:38. > :39:41.counterterrorism, but also criminality, which is one of the

:39:42. > :39:44.reasons that we are looking to see an improvement in the exchange of

:39:45. > :39:50.information about criminality among the countries within the European

:39:51. > :39:58.Union. I have French relatives in Paris. I associate myself whth the

:39:59. > :40:02.home Secretary's remarks in terms of this attack. She made the rhght

:40:03. > :40:06.point that I would and this country, we are blessed by the fact of the

:40:07. > :40:13.availability of automatic wdapons. In some cases of more sophisticated

:40:14. > :40:18.explosive. Is hard in this country to obtain. We should have adequate

:40:19. > :40:21.screening at our borders to prevent importation. We have good

:40:22. > :40:26.intelligence, but that in itself cannot be a substitute for ht. I

:40:27. > :40:30.wonder what party she is gohng to be able to get to that point. On the

:40:31. > :40:35.second matter, I want to sax about her comments on his on the 40th --

:40:36. > :40:44.as on the 40th... Is on the phobia... This country would be wise

:40:45. > :40:48.not to underestimate its impact My friends other point is right. One of

:40:49. > :40:53.the reasons why it is important to ask the police to separatelx record

:40:54. > :40:58.anti-Muslim hate crime is for us to get a better understanding of the

:40:59. > :41:01.extent of this. , my's stathstic has been suggesting that it has

:41:02. > :41:06.increased in recent years. Hs important that we play our part in

:41:07. > :41:09.addressing a problem and recognising the impact they has on a problem and

:41:10. > :41:11.recognising the impact that has on her muzzle them -- communithes. He

:41:12. > :41:15.asked about firearms, and I have been pressing for some time now for

:41:16. > :41:20.greater action within the Etropean Union in relation to him about

:41:21. > :41:25.firearms. I expect that this will be further discussed later in this

:41:26. > :41:29.two-week. We must also ensure that the national crime that agency is

:41:30. > :41:33.undertaking operations at looking specifically at this issue with our

:41:34. > :41:36.border force as to how it would be possible for us to add to the United

:41:37. > :41:42.Kingdom at, and what further action can be taken to prevent that. Mr

:41:43. > :41:50.Speaker I was alarmed to he`r that last week French security sdrvices

:41:51. > :41:56.were informed of a man detahned in Bavaria with automatic weapons. In

:41:57. > :42:00.welcoming the home Secretarx's commitment to additional resource,

:42:01. > :42:05.and for our security servicds, can she confirm that it is new loney,

:42:06. > :42:09.that the appointments of 1900 officers will be new, and that such

:42:10. > :42:19.information could have been given to our services? I'm not able to

:42:20. > :42:22.comment on the particular c`se that he outlines, because I do not know

:42:23. > :42:26.all of the facts within that. There have been reports of the media, but

:42:27. > :42:31.I think that it is important -- important for me not to comlent on

:42:32. > :42:41.that. I can confirm that thdse will be subject to additional money. I

:42:42. > :42:48.express our solidarity with our French colleagues in intern`tional

:42:49. > :42:54.Poland today. In two world wars shoulder to shoulder. May I speak

:42:55. > :43:03.directly to them and say... Tailback French.

:43:04. > :43:17.I think that I can only respond to my honourable friend by sayhng. .

:43:18. > :43:22.FRENCH. Can I add my voice to those who have condemned these barbaric

:43:23. > :43:29.attacks on France, and thosd who have a flight from Egypt to Russia.

:43:30. > :43:37.One of my many concerns is that there will be a rise in the Islam of

:43:38. > :43:44.phobia, and I want him to the home Secretary's words when she said ..

:43:45. > :43:47.In light of those words can I encourage everyone in this house to

:43:48. > :43:50.stop using the name of Islal when talking about these terrorists. The

:43:51. > :43:59.name that they have given themselves is Isil, and can I encouragd

:44:00. > :44:02.everyone to use the term. It is something that might break the link

:44:03. > :44:07.in peoples minds between Islam and terrorism. I say to the honourable

:44:08. > :44:18.Lady Diana Seppi with the boy that she has made. I do not you H do

:44:19. > :44:21.often use a term... This group is not Islamic, and it is not ` state.

:44:22. > :44:28.We should not give the imprdssion of either of those. Can I thank the

:44:29. > :44:33.Secretary of State for her statements. It will be widely

:44:34. > :44:36.welcomed in France, or offer us towards supporting cooperathon, and

:44:37. > :44:41.also he is insistent that the election on. She would know that

:44:42. > :44:45.there are numerous attempts on the British public, and that we should

:44:46. > :44:48.be deeply grateful for security services. Went on to the

:44:49. > :44:52.investigatory Powers Bill, will she reflect on proposals to involve

:44:53. > :44:57.judiciary on the executive decision on issuing warrants. Base should be

:44:58. > :45:02.in the hands in the sector of state who bear a response ability to this

:45:03. > :45:06.house, by all means involve the judiciary after the event, dates, or

:45:07. > :45:12.a week later. We should really consider that it must be a Secretary

:45:13. > :45:16.of State -- state that makes this decision, and dispute that hs a

:45:17. > :45:22.vital. He is right, there are cases where speed is essential. That is

:45:23. > :45:25.why in the investigatory Powers Bill, we provide for emergency or

:45:26. > :45:30.urgency situations, where the timeliness is required, and in those

:45:31. > :45:33.circumstances it will be possible for Secretary of State to shgn a

:45:34. > :45:38.word to that would come into effect immediately before the judicial

:45:39. > :45:43.authority has considered a. He asks me to look at the double locked them

:45:44. > :45:47.to put in place. I agree with him that it is important to havd public

:45:48. > :45:50.accountability over the dechsion made by the Secretary of St`te. I

:45:51. > :45:54.also know there is concern from people to ensure that there is a

:45:55. > :45:57.second element of judicial authority. Some people wantdd only

:45:58. > :46:01.to be judicial authority, bh do not think that is right. The wax that we

:46:02. > :46:03.are going with the accountability of the Secretary of State and the

:46:04. > :46:15.independence of the judiciary is right. We condemn these murders and

:46:16. > :46:23.depraved attack. We send our console condolences. The organisation who

:46:24. > :46:26.perpetrated the attacks that do that with the home Secretary is for the

:46:27. > :46:34.house that the government is doing all that it can to aid international

:46:35. > :46:40.efforts to stop the supply of arms and expertise to terrorist `t the

:46:41. > :46:42.source? I said to the honourable gentleman that indeed we ard looking

:46:43. > :46:46.across the board that every editor and step that can be taken hn

:46:47. > :46:50.relation to these matters. We did see a difference in this attack in

:46:51. > :46:55.relation to the attacks previously had undertaken in a name of Isil,

:46:56. > :47:02.because it has been and reqtired proration and planning. He hs right

:47:03. > :47:05.that is important to stem the availability of at source. @s a

:47:06. > :47:09.reason that we have been looking at, or continue to look it up across

:47:10. > :47:12.Europe at the question of the movement of the movement of

:47:13. > :47:22.firearms, particularly heavx weaponry like assault rifles across

:47:23. > :47:25.Europe. I would like to add, on behalf of my constituents following

:47:26. > :47:30.Friday's perfect attack in Paris. The primary -- by minister suggested

:47:31. > :47:33.that the government will be looking at a timetable by the draft of the

:47:34. > :47:37.investigatory Powers Bill. Dvent in Paris and Brussels have highlighted

:47:38. > :47:39.the importance to make sure that our intelligence and security sdrvices

:47:40. > :47:49.have all the resources that they need. Within a legal framework to

:47:50. > :47:54.show signs -- to Franco Lee tax -- act of terrorism of having xour

:47:55. > :47:58.home. And might pray and offer information into the privatd Mr s

:47:59. > :48:06.anaesthetist morning. I would like to add my support to the frhend when

:48:07. > :48:11.she talked about that the Isil are nothing by death. He went b`ck I

:48:12. > :48:17.commend my friend for the comments that she has made a. In rel`tion to

:48:18. > :48:21.the timing, as I have indic`ted we have always looked to make sure that

:48:22. > :48:28.we have in place the legisl`tion that enables Oracle -- police and

:48:29. > :48:31.security and intelligence agencies the power that they need. The

:48:32. > :48:35.investigatory Powers Bill significant piece of legisl`tion

:48:36. > :48:42.and. We expected to stand the test of time, we do want it to bd changed

:48:43. > :48:46.by governments on a constant basis. It is important that we get right,

:48:47. > :48:49.and it is important and therefore they has proper scrutiny and also

:48:50. > :49:06.they has support across this house, given the nature of the leghslation

:49:07. > :49:11.that we are introducing. Thdse young people who were attacking P`ris

:49:12. > :49:17.they must've gotten brainwashed somewhere across the line someone.

:49:18. > :49:23.To the secretary of the state does what she's going to do to stop them

:49:24. > :49:33.from getting too young people, and speculate who of finances these

:49:34. > :49:37.people? Young the honourabld gentleman has raised an important

:49:38. > :49:42.point about counter radicalhsation. That is why there is in place the

:49:43. > :49:44.preventive programme, and whthin the prevent programme the channdl

:49:45. > :49:51.programme which specificallx deals with individuals and worse to move

:49:52. > :49:55.them away from a path of radicalisation. Bratwurst more

:49:56. > :50:01.generally within communities. Any counterterrorism act we provided

:50:02. > :50:05.greater training to identifx these issues of potential running

:50:06. > :50:09.radicalisation, and ability to take action against him. Beyond that we

:50:10. > :50:13.have lost our contract team is a strategy because it is important

:50:14. > :50:16.that we challenged the extrdmist ideology that lies behind that

:50:17. > :50:26.radicalisation. As far strategy and to do. Mr Speaker, does my friend

:50:27. > :50:29.accept that many of the successes against drugs and arms smugglers

:50:30. > :50:35.have been because of the work of the border force, maritime aeri`l

:50:36. > :50:40.surveillance capability. As well as its team based at an ever in my

:50:41. > :50:43.constituency. Was she therefore reserve -- reverse the decision to

:50:44. > :50:50.terminate at contract with the affect of January sixth in 2016 and

:50:51. > :50:55.in so doing you do warning of a baroness that we will otherwise be

:50:56. > :51:01.left with a gap in our capability in maritime surveillance? I sax to him

:51:02. > :51:04.that what is important is that we have the capability that we need. I

:51:05. > :51:12.can reassure him that we will be ensuring that we do indeed have the

:51:13. > :51:18.capability that we need. In a genuine spirit of inquiry, hs a

:51:19. > :51:21.sensitive area, with the set of withdrawing citizenship frol some

:51:22. > :51:27.who to promote and act on the basis of an eye -- ideology of threat to

:51:28. > :51:33.the fellow citizens of the TK quiz you? Went back I do have thd power

:51:34. > :51:37.to remove citizenship, and H have acted that way on a number of

:51:38. > :51:41.occasions. The is subject to some limitations in relation to dnsuring

:51:42. > :51:47.that people are not made st`teless, although we did our -- enhance our

:51:48. > :51:57.ability to remove citizenshhp in the last bill that we passed. Whth the

:51:58. > :52:02.home secretary agreed that Hsil and targets in Syria should be bound by

:52:03. > :52:06.RDF, and is it not time for the house to be consulted again on this

:52:07. > :52:09.matter? The Prime Minister has made clear that you will only cole back

:52:10. > :52:13.to the house on this matter when there is a consensus, and obviously

:52:14. > :52:19.everyone in this house will be considering their position on that

:52:20. > :52:25.particular matter. Home secretary and welcome statement has ptt stress

:52:26. > :52:31.on the importance of our cotnter extremism strategy. In building a

:52:32. > :52:36.sense of shared values, which I do what she has called pervertdd and

:52:37. > :52:41.murderous values of these tdrrorist. Will she be with her colleagues in

:52:42. > :52:45.the Department of education, in the Department of education, and those

:52:46. > :52:51.departments can can do to btild that shared sense of value? I sax to the

:52:52. > :52:54.honourable lady that the extremism task force is chaired by thd Prime

:52:55. > :52:58.Minister, and it includes both the promise that she has mentioned, and

:52:59. > :53:03.others as well as well as the home office. But she looks at thd

:53:04. > :53:08.federation strategy, Sue -- she will see that includes references to the

:53:09. > :53:13.Department of education, th`t they have already moved in relathon to

:53:14. > :53:23.that work on promoting the shared values that we share as part of

:53:24. > :53:29.living in this society. My friend has mentioned 129 birth, and the

:53:30. > :53:32.hundreds still in hospital. In addition, there are people like a

:53:33. > :53:39.friend of mine, who on Frid`y night within a bistro just yards from the

:53:40. > :53:45.cafe that was attack. PMs to friends escaped. They ran down the road

:53:46. > :53:51.only to find themselves getting very close to another area which was

:53:52. > :53:56.under attack. He has now returned home, and I can tell you and the

:53:57. > :54:04.house that he is totally tr`umatised to stop the wish to work across

:54:05. > :54:07.government to ensure that pdople like him and others who havd

:54:08. > :54:11.returned back to the UK, who have been hurt in this way, will receive

:54:12. > :54:16.assistance from the Departmdnt of health and other organizations? Yes,

:54:17. > :54:20.I can give him that that reassurance. The foreign office has

:54:21. > :54:23.insured that the support is available for those who havd

:54:24. > :54:27.returned who were caught up in this, not just those who are physhcal in

:54:28. > :54:31.jeopardy, but those who havd been, ties as a result of the x-r`ys of

:54:32. > :54:34.the head. I would suggest allowable friend that you can't ask the

:54:35. > :54:38.Minister of the foreign offhce who is on the treasurer branch ,- bench

:54:39. > :54:48.who and will be at able to dnlighten him. I have received the sad news

:54:49. > :54:54.courtesy of the skull in thd newspaper that a young man from Fort

:54:55. > :54:59.William is an induced, it al Paris, having been caught up in thd events.

:55:00. > :55:03.I would like to ask the homd Secretary was a Barbie can give to

:55:04. > :55:08.the family in this situation, not just be a young man involved, but

:55:09. > :55:09.his extended family, and Rosato -- and solidarity to those who've been

:55:10. > :55:18.caught this is well-stocked? In our thoughts are with hil. And

:55:19. > :55:24.his family and friends and honestly be held that he will make a

:55:25. > :55:29.recovery. There is constant support to families who wish to be

:55:30. > :55:35.supporting members of the f`mily who are in hospital in France. We have

:55:36. > :55:39.also a wider point we look `t what assistance the Department of Health

:55:40. > :55:43.can give to friends, partictlarly looking at the issue of those who

:55:44. > :55:47.have been traumatised by thd event and experience that we have here in

:55:48. > :55:51.the Department of Health. Work is ongoing and all sorts of exchanger.

:55:52. > :55:56.As I've said, there is assistance available on the British assembly in

:55:57. > :56:06.Paris. And we have sent a tdam over to Paris to help with network.

:56:07. > :56:14.Allenby 2003 bombings, Morocco set up the camera back to train foreign

:56:15. > :56:19.overseas. Including women preachers. And the moderate Sunni tradhtion,

:56:20. > :56:24.that characterises backcountry. Last month, an agreement was reached with

:56:25. > :56:28.friends and I respect. What can we learn from that experience? Will be

:56:29. > :56:35.a benefit to the UK and would do commend Barack Obama this

:56:36. > :56:40.initiative? Yes. I absolutely command Morocco for the initiative

:56:41. > :56:44.that it took. My Honorable friend, the Minister from Foreign Office who

:56:45. > :56:50.is responsible for North Africa visited that facility recently. We

:56:51. > :56:59.are encouraging other countries in the Middle East to take a shmilar

:57:00. > :57:03.approach. Can I join the Hole Secretary and baking our security

:57:04. > :57:08.services, our police and Arled Forces for the work that thdy do in

:57:09. > :57:12.keeping a safe. The Home Secretary spoke of taking all necessary steps

:57:13. > :57:15.to prevent attacks on the UK. I ll be grateful if you can take say

:57:16. > :57:19.something about what work is taking place to audit all of our existing

:57:20. > :57:23.security capabilities, to ensure that we have what we need in the

:57:24. > :57:27.right place, at the right ldvel of preparedness and that it is properly

:57:28. > :57:30.resource die because she also confirmed that she exited examining

:57:31. > :57:35.our resilience and not just in London, but in towns and cities

:57:36. > :57:38.across the UK? I can certainly assure the honourable gentldman that

:57:39. > :57:42.we do not just look at resilience in London, we look across the TK. As I

:57:43. > :57:51.indicated earlier, in relathon to these sorts of writing done attacks,

:57:52. > :57:54.we had enhance our ability to deal with these, not just the police

:57:55. > :57:57.capabilities, but the ability of the emergency services to work together

:57:58. > :58:03.to save lives and high risk situations. That is being rdviewed

:58:04. > :58:08.as a result of the terrorist attacks to see if there are any lessons that

:58:09. > :58:10.we need to learn from those attacks. We are looking across other aspects

:58:11. > :58:19.of our security arrangements to ensure that they are appropriate and

:58:20. > :58:22.to the thread that we face. Was then chilled at this older with the

:58:23. > :58:26.people of France, and I both have to be with the families and all of the

:58:27. > :58:33.victims at this time. When ht comes to security of our borders, we are

:58:34. > :58:37.only as strong as our weakest link. The French as it disorder control

:58:38. > :58:43.over the weekend, what extent can the secretary... To the atthtude is

:58:44. > :58:50.important control throughout the rest of the EU? I say to her that of

:58:51. > :58:55.course the internal borders within this second area are for those

:58:56. > :58:58.countries who are members of second. We have of course been disctssing

:58:59. > :59:02.with other countries in the European union of the whole question of the

:59:03. > :59:06.external borders of Europe. And how we can enhance those the security at

:59:07. > :59:16.the external borders, and wd will continue with the discussions. I

:59:17. > :59:21.welcome the Home Secretary of state. She is aware that my constituency of

:59:22. > :59:23.bent -- Brent North is one with the highest numbers of refugees and

:59:24. > :59:31.asylum seekers from the Middle East in the country. In light of the

:59:32. > :59:33.clear advice above current `nd former Metropolitan Police

:59:34. > :59:36.commissioners of the import`nce of neighbourhood safety teams `nd local

:59:37. > :59:42.policing, will see me with the current Police Commissioner and look

:59:43. > :59:45.at the needs of constituenches, like mine, to ensure that those local

:59:46. > :59:53.neighbourhood safety teams `re kept in place and enhanced in order to

:59:54. > :59:55.ensure that the strategy is fine? I can assure the honourable gdntleman

:59:56. > :00:01.that I meet regularly with the Commissioner. To discuss a number of

:00:02. > :00:12.issues relating to the policing of lending and what a responsible

:00:13. > :00:15.disease that he has. I welcome my friend in a statement with regards

:00:16. > :00:20.to the doubling of resources for airport securities during this

:00:21. > :00:29.Parliament. She will note that over the weekend, airports has bdcause

:00:30. > :00:35.after a lightly French national was was caught with a firearm. Will she

:00:36. > :00:42.join me in paying tribute to Sussex Police, and also security at the

:00:43. > :00:46.airport for their vigilance? I am aware there was an incident that

:00:47. > :00:49.took place. It with that with very professionally by the policd and I

:00:50. > :00:54.certainly commend the work of the Sussex Police at the airport, and

:00:55. > :01:01.also the wider work of Sussdx Police and the work that they do to keep

:01:02. > :01:08.people safe. I was to offer my condolences. These people are not of

:01:09. > :01:14.my faith and should not be regarded as such. I wish to pay tribtte to

:01:15. > :01:18.that's our police and securhty for the work that they do in kedping us

:01:19. > :01:26.safe. I had knowledge the ftnding has been met, and also have comments

:01:27. > :01:31.on islamophobia. Was to look at the border agency and staffing that

:01:32. > :01:38.needs to be done? Not just to keep -- does the Air Force, but `ll of

:01:39. > :01:42.our airports than the tubul`r that. Can I welcome the statement that the

:01:43. > :01:45.honourable gentleman made. H think it is important that the st`tement

:01:46. > :01:49.that he has made his has bedn made here in the House. In that lessage

:01:50. > :01:55.should go out across the whole of the country. Would do a look

:01:56. > :02:02.staffing across, not just ahrports, but in relation to reports to. We

:02:03. > :02:05.are constantly looking at the appropriate staffing and me`sures

:02:06. > :02:13.that are in place to maintahn security. Will do that on an ongoing

:02:14. > :02:15.basis. I welcome the Prime Minister's of increased funding for

:02:16. > :02:23.our intelligence services, they are doing a good job. In light of of the

:02:24. > :02:28.events of Paris, and hide a risk here in London, may I heckld across

:02:29. > :02:31.the sufficient funding to ensure comprehensive neighbourhood policing

:02:32. > :02:38.in London, which is a cruci`l tool in tackling home-grown terror was

:02:39. > :02:41.white I, always leave the ftnding that will be available to individual

:02:42. > :02:44.police forces and the polichng budget and general will be lade

:02:45. > :02:52.known that the basement to review and the allocation, which whll be a

:02:53. > :02:55.few weeks after that. I can assure him that in looking at all of these

:02:56. > :03:00.matters, we of course look `t the capabilities that are required by

:03:01. > :03:03.our police. Are looking at anti-terror resumed work, wd live

:03:04. > :03:10.across the board at the cap`bilities that are required to ensure that we

:03:11. > :03:19.can maintain our national sdcurity. Over the weekend, there werd great

:03:20. > :03:26.celebrations and hierarchy of the capture of... , Lord Robertson be

:03:27. > :03:36.the from Syria, and the asshstance of UK forces through the air and

:03:37. > :03:42.other partners. That has broken the connection between... Candy Home

:03:43. > :03:44.Secretary speak from the colleagues from the Commonwealth officd and

:03:45. > :03:52.other government departments and assess mouth, is it not timd that we

:03:53. > :03:59.did more in this country, both to assist... And see how we can destroy

:04:00. > :04:07.in his headquarters? The honourable gentleman is right. We need to do

:04:08. > :04:09.the the dais and we that and we do that in a whole variety of ways

:04:10. > :04:14.Dealing with them when they are primarily based as part of that He

:04:15. > :04:22.is right in referring to thd recapture. That is an important

:04:23. > :04:26.landmark that has taken place. I am sure is that you will noticd that

:04:27. > :04:33.there is a form, web offices on the progress that would the rem`rks that

:04:34. > :04:36.he he has made. What my fridnd agreed that that those who seek to

:04:37. > :04:40.defend our liberties, those enjoyed by Christians, Muslims, those of

:04:41. > :04:45.faith or none, by depriving the security services of the powers that

:04:46. > :04:49.they need actually put thosd liberties at risk and should

:04:50. > :04:55.consider their position? I think my friend makes an important point I

:04:56. > :04:59.think people talk about sectrity and liberties as is some sort of 0-sum

:05:00. > :05:09.game, but actually you can only enjoy your liberties if you have

:05:10. > :05:14.your security. I spent this morning with one of my constituents who

:05:15. > :05:17.spent Friday night dischargd from the battle cut. Despite the summer

:05:18. > :05:22.that he had been through, hd wanted to speak to me about was his

:05:23. > :05:24.concerns about the Syrian community, particularly in light of

:05:25. > :05:29.the passport that was found. His view is that that those who run away

:05:30. > :05:33.from the alarm of state, run away from Syria because they do not share

:05:34. > :05:35.his values, just because we do not share his values. It is important

:05:36. > :05:45.that we continue to make it clear that a juror, we welcome refugees.

:05:46. > :05:48.In your. At the Honorable L`dy knows, we are committed to welcoming

:05:49. > :05:54.thousands of refugees beford Christmas, at 20,000 over the course

:05:55. > :05:58.of this Parliament. He is rhght those waffling the action that is

:05:59. > :06:02.taking place in Syria are playing from the barbarism of Isil, but also

:06:03. > :06:05.many cases playing from att`cks of the Syrian people from his own

:06:06. > :06:11.government. Is why it is so important that we ensure th`t we

:06:12. > :06:16.find a resolution, a political resolution, for what is happening in

:06:17. > :06:20.Syria. So that those many htndreds of thousands series who havd had to

:06:21. > :06:28.flee their homes, are able to go back to where they want to be, which

:06:29. > :06:34.is home. My friend referred to the French governments management.. I

:06:35. > :06:38.want to support her expresshon of gratitude to them. As she knows

:06:39. > :06:45.there are around 5000 peopld leaving -- living just outside of C`li who

:06:46. > :06:48.are desperate to get to the UK. The government invest in better security

:06:49. > :06:51.over the summer, which has been effective. There are still some

:06:52. > :06:57.people getting through the border every night. Could she advise what

:06:58. > :07:01.further steps will be taken to ensure that the border at C`l is

:07:02. > :07:10.secure, but also make sure conditions in the camp refldct our

:07:11. > :07:13.values, especially compassion? And regards, the conditions in Canada,

:07:14. > :07:18.some funding has been made `vailable to the French government for

:07:19. > :07:21.facilities in the camps, and we ourselves the UK Government has

:07:22. > :07:26.committed funding to the Frdnch government, to work with thdm and

:07:27. > :07:29.identify victims of trafficking who may be in the camps. On the security

:07:30. > :07:42.front, we have stepped up the spring that has taken place. -- tr`ining.

:07:43. > :07:46.Increase the security fencing there, the French government has increased

:07:47. > :07:50.police presence, and we havd increased the number of scrdening

:07:51. > :08:03.activities with are taking place over a variety of source. -, sorts.

:08:04. > :08:06.The Secretary of State will be aware that Glasgow was the scene of a

:08:07. > :08:13.spontaneous vigil for peace and tolerance the solidarity with Paris

:08:14. > :08:16.on Saturday. Is also prepardd to welcome refugees. That she `greed

:08:17. > :08:20.that the promotion of peace and tolerance is the best way to

:08:21. > :08:24.counteract terrorism and living up to our place to welcome reftgees is

:08:25. > :08:27.one of the best ways to demonstrate that tolerance? I think it hs

:08:28. > :08:32.absolutely right that we should pledge peace and tolerance. Was to

:08:33. > :08:36.be done all to encourage pe`ce and tolerance. And assured that there is

:08:37. > :08:41.tolerance within communities here in the United Kingdom. There are

:08:42. > :08:46.numerous bigoted afternoon have already referred to. And welcoming

:08:47. > :08:50.of refugees, giving them protection, and that homes of those who have

:08:51. > :08:58.been the place from conflict and Syria is at very good example of

:08:59. > :09:01.that. Hunger for the Home Sdcretary that should mention the word that

:09:02. > :09:08.should mention the work will see played tribute to... 11 working 24

:09:09. > :09:15.hours of round-the-clock since this matter occurred, some of thd

:09:16. > :09:18.parliamentary business last Monday, and was far to take the opportunity

:09:19. > :09:30.to recognise that now is not a time... He is right. I first met he

:09:31. > :09:35.was was a national security adviser, he is well aware of the isstes

:09:36. > :09:39.around the issue. He has bedn doing and asked on a job as our Albassador

:09:40. > :09:44.in France. I have seen him work closely over the summer months in

:09:45. > :09:49.relation to this issue. He dnters that have been working tirelessly

:09:50. > :09:52.over this to ensure the consulate support is available to those

:09:53. > :09:56.British families who have bden caught up in these terrible attacks.

:09:57. > :09:58.But also to ensure that every assistance had me given givdn to the

:09:59. > :10:08.French authorities in the work that they are doing. Indoctrinathon of

:10:09. > :10:14.young boy and mines is a re`l source of concern one, to the growth of

:10:15. > :10:21.radical Islam. Lastly, only the schools... Would have a real problem

:10:22. > :10:28.with private Muslim faith schools, people dropping off the reghster.

:10:29. > :10:31.And heard the secretary to work with the Secretariat, as an air of real

:10:32. > :10:36.concern, cope because we ard not doing the job at the moment. I think

:10:37. > :10:40.he raises a point. We have seen already some actions they'vd taken

:10:41. > :10:44.place in this area. The govdrnment is committed to taking further

:10:45. > :10:53.action in relation to suppldmentary schools. Will be looking at further

:10:54. > :10:55.inspections a supplementary schools that are providing a number of

:10:56. > :11:01.certain hours of education, I think it is important, both in relation to

:11:02. > :11:09.the issue that he has raced on radicalisation, and also just as a

:11:10. > :11:17.general safeguarding issues. And I welcome the Secretary of St`te's

:11:18. > :11:21.statement today of the meastres announced for security servhces As

:11:22. > :11:24.you'll recognise, that Metropolitan Police have counterterrorisl

:11:25. > :11:29.launches, not only in London but across the country. Can ask her what

:11:30. > :11:35.extra support might be extended to them at least and execution of these

:11:36. > :11:45.duties? He is right that thd counterterrorism command, is based

:11:46. > :11:48.the Metropolitan Police. Th`t is funded through the countertdrrorism

:11:49. > :11:54.policing grant, as are the counterterrorism regional units that

:11:55. > :12:04.have existed in place like the best, Northwest across the country.

:12:05. > :12:11.We will of course... And having cleared the cat counterterrorism

:12:12. > :12:15.funding will continue to be protected the type of the story and

:12:16. > :12:18.we welcome her attendance at the European justice and home affairs

:12:19. > :12:20.Council on Friday. That the Home Secretary at the Andrew of the

:12:21. > :12:23.story, and we welcome her attendance at the European justice and home

:12:24. > :12:25.affairs Council on Friday. That the Home Secretary that agree whth me

:12:26. > :12:31.with our European union partners and friends system the flow of `rms to

:12:32. > :12:36.share information, and. Fild acts of terrorism? And the. That cooperation

:12:37. > :12:41.is important. We are looking to enhance the cooperation and a number

:12:42. > :12:47.of areas, including as I indicated earlier, the movement of firearms,

:12:48. > :12:49.and things like the exchangd across borders of information about

:12:50. > :13:01.criminality and criminal records. So that we can all better protdct our

:13:02. > :13:04.citizens in the future. I wdlcome the secretaries's statement and

:13:05. > :13:08.particularly that they will be increased border checks on vehicles

:13:09. > :13:16.entering the UK. Does my right honourable friend not agree that in

:13:17. > :13:19.order to further... Of illegal immigrants and illegal fire`rms

:13:20. > :13:29.being brought in to the UK, every single vehicle entering this country

:13:30. > :13:34.should be thoroughly checked? I say to my friend that the decishons

:13:35. > :13:38.about the assessment of which checks are taken any particular vehicle, is

:13:39. > :13:42.a matter for the border force that they'll be taken at our borders

:13:43. > :13:46.They have a clear mandate that they operate under. To have incrdased the

:13:47. > :13:52.number of checks that they `re undertaking. I would say to him that

:13:53. > :13:55.of course they will be lookhng for those who are trying to embdd the UK

:13:56. > :13:59.illegally. They'll be looking for those who are tried to bring in

:14:00. > :14:04.firearms illegally. They have had success in both of those ardas, and

:14:05. > :14:13.I think our border force officers do an excellent job for us. Thd Home

:14:14. > :14:16.Secretary would have heard `nd heard departmental questions and during

:14:17. > :14:21.the statement that the high level of concern across the country `re at

:14:22. > :14:24.because of the police forces. Can I ask her what considerations she had

:14:25. > :14:29.been having a discussion with the Minister of defence about utilising

:14:30. > :14:35.the Armed Forces and prevention and potentially responding should there

:14:36. > :14:40.be an attack in the UK? I c`n assure her it that there are tacit

:14:41. > :14:44.arrangements in place, for lilitary support to be provided to the police

:14:45. > :14:52.when necessary. These were hssues that we looked at after the attacks

:14:53. > :15:09.in Paris that had earlier this year,... And attacks in London. At

:15:10. > :15:14.somebody from and military background, I agree with her. This

:15:15. > :15:18.was caused by an evil organhzation. We all have to unite togethdr to

:15:19. > :15:25.defeat this evil organization. Its ideology and propaganda that pushes

:15:26. > :15:37.forward. , ask the secretarx it it is estimated that 80% of tax in the

:15:38. > :15:42.UK have prevented... -- att`cks , is that correct, and we continted with

:15:43. > :15:46.that? I do not comment on any particular information or

:15:47. > :15:50.intelligence that has led to the ability to disrupt potential

:15:51. > :15:53.attacks. We of course work with a number of countries overseas in

:15:54. > :15:59.relation to intelligence sh`ring, and I can confirm that the Prime

:16:00. > :16:01.Minister said this morning, that in the last 12 months, seven tdrrorist

:16:02. > :16:11.attacks have been disrupted in the UK. I listen very carefully to the

:16:12. > :16:18.defence secretary statement about the Jones. To become Secret`ry of

:16:19. > :16:21.State speak a little bit about the nation and the origin of thd first

:16:22. > :16:30.that we faced, and to what dxtent we are facing directly... I thhnk the

:16:31. > :16:36.fact is that the bread that we face is diverse. The fact that started

:16:37. > :16:40.with a Isil is diverse, as we have seen what has happened in P`ris

:16:41. > :16:44.individuals conducting an attack would have been prepared and

:16:45. > :16:47.planned. Of course, it is possible these days with social medi` for

:16:48. > :16:51.people who are based and ond territory to reach out to others,

:16:52. > :16:58.and encouraged him to go out and undertake an attack on our streets.

:16:59. > :17:01.Soda bread that we face is ` diverse spread, and some of that threat

:17:02. > :17:10.honestly does originate frol that territory that is by Isil. Further

:17:11. > :17:19.to the previous question, I have to say I has to go out to thosd in

:17:20. > :17:22.Paris. At the nature of the threat, as my right friend said that if the

:17:23. > :17:30.dais were defeated in Syria and Iraq, that would not necess`rily

:17:31. > :17:37.stop the problem in Western Europe. Is important that we do the dais. Of

:17:38. > :17:44.course, as my Honorable fridnd will recognise, there are threats that we

:17:45. > :17:47.face that cannot just some of them. Doctorates from organizations and

:17:48. > :17:54.nations that have links to @l-Qaeda for example. What matters is

:17:55. > :17:59.important, is of course that we defeat the ideology that lids behind

:18:00. > :18:04.these terrorist groups. That can be done in a variety of ways. Ht is why

:18:05. > :18:11.the moves that would have m`de, such as the counter extremism strategy in

:18:12. > :18:16.the UK, often important. Often there is a focus on security agencies and

:18:17. > :18:21.police can do. A focus on the sort of activity. But defeating the

:18:22. > :18:27.ideology is essential. On strvivors of the attacks in Paris expressed

:18:28. > :18:30.surprise at the young age of some of the suicide bombers. It has been

:18:31. > :18:35.reported, for example, that one of the bombers may have been as young

:18:36. > :18:42.as 15 years old. I have alrdady raised this house the issue of the

:18:43. > :18:45.growth of suicide bombings. With the Secretary of State agree th`t this

:18:46. > :18:51.is an urgent matter that we need to do more to consider? I shard with

:18:52. > :18:55.the honourable gentleman thd concern about the potential use of some of

:18:56. > :19:00.these evolved in the attacks. Sadly, what we have seen in recent times it

:19:01. > :19:07.that those who are attempting to or travelling to Syria, saying more and

:19:08. > :19:11.more younger people attempthng to travel, and indeed some casds here

:19:12. > :19:17.in the UK of people and thehr teenage years being prosecuted. For

:19:18. > :19:20.the Obama and potential terroristic activities. This in a matter of

:19:21. > :19:23.concern and. Is a question of dealing with the radicalized nation

:19:24. > :19:31.that is taking place of the two of those young minds. As my frhend

:19:32. > :19:36.knows, the dispersal centre for asylum seekers and will be welcomed

:19:37. > :19:42.a share of asylum seekers over the next few weeks. Can I ask hdr what

:19:43. > :19:46.action she is taking to makd sure these are genuine asylum sedkers and

:19:47. > :19:50.I terroristic? And out with can assure that younger asylum seekers

:19:51. > :19:56.will not be radicalized? In relation to those -- both refugees that we

:19:57. > :20:01.are accepting from Syria and people who come here and claim asylum, we

:20:02. > :20:06.do make the necessary securhty checks and that is an important part

:20:07. > :20:11.of the process that we undertake. Of course, one individual who's is

:20:12. > :20:17.unaccompanied, a child or a minor towns listed in UK, the verx have

:20:18. > :20:21.been giving to a number of number of members this afternoon are

:20:22. > :20:25.important. It is a part of that within communities, we promote the

:20:26. > :20:27.mainstream voices and coheshon within communities that can help

:20:28. > :20:39.provide the resilience against that radicalized nation. How does the

:20:40. > :20:45.secretary respond to the cl`im made by President Clinton that the dais

:20:46. > :20:50.is funded by 40 countries, hncluding members of the G20. And doesn't the

:20:51. > :20:54.government and the opposition as of the congratulations of the nation to

:20:55. > :20:59.their restraint measured response to the terrible events, and th`t the

:21:00. > :21:02.government now fully embracdd the notion that hearts and minds can

:21:03. > :21:10.never be won over by bombs `nd bullets? What lies behind the

:21:11. > :21:19.terrorist attacks, what lies behind the dais, is a perverted iddology.

:21:20. > :21:22.It is important, that we de`l with that perverted ideology. We need to

:21:23. > :21:27.be taking the steps to make sure that our police and securitx

:21:28. > :21:32.agencies, our border force, have the powers and abilities to keep us safe

:21:33. > :21:36.and secure. What what underpins with the terrorists do it that pdrverted

:21:37. > :21:44.ideology. That is why dealing with that ideology, confronting ht is so

:21:45. > :21:48.important. Cycles he said that if he is reelected, that he will seek to

:21:49. > :21:53.electronically tag all of those on the extremist watchlist. Had the

:21:54. > :22:01.secretary of state consider doing the same in this country? In

:22:02. > :22:08.relation to anybody who is, a matter of interest to the police or law

:22:09. > :22:10.enforcement, there are numbdr of powers and measures that ard

:22:11. > :22:15.available to the authorities in order to do with them. But those who

:22:16. > :22:22.are planning terrorist attacks, those who seek to undertake attacks,

:22:23. > :22:25.of course with those strong counterterrorism legislation that we

:22:26. > :22:28.have here, I'm sure anybody would agree that the best place for a

:22:29. > :22:35.terrorist is prosecuted and behind bars. That the secretary understand

:22:36. > :22:39.that the Prime Minister would not get a consensus for increasdd

:22:40. > :22:45.military intervention unless and until he comes to the public and to

:22:46. > :22:54.this house with a plan involving increased diplomatic development,

:22:55. > :23:01.and military options for thhs? When can we see some leadership? She says

:23:02. > :23:09.that the UK will stand with France, when will this happen? I sax to

:23:10. > :23:13.him, I found his question and little confusing. We do stand with friends,

:23:14. > :23:18.and we have been standing alongside France. Would have been providing

:23:19. > :23:22.grants with the assistance `nd cooperation in these matters, and we

:23:23. > :23:26.continued to do so. Image of the issue of whether the UK will take

:23:27. > :23:32.part in military action in relation to Syria, and the Prime Minhster is

:23:33. > :23:35.being very clear if and when it comes to this house in relation to

:23:36. > :23:45.such matters, it will be on the basis of a consensus. From Beirut to

:23:46. > :23:50.Paris, not forgetting the explosion on the Russian MetroJet, it is clear

:23:51. > :23:55.that Isil is looking to takd is barbaric battle beyond is hopeful

:23:56. > :24:01.caliphate. Does my friend tdll us what steps are being taken to part

:24:02. > :24:03.with the international commtnity, including Arabs states -- Arab

:24:04. > :24:15.states to cut the funding to these terrorist groups? There is ` group

:24:16. > :24:20.of how the forces that come together in Coalition in relation to these

:24:21. > :24:23.and a whole variety of ways, including the work to countdr the

:24:24. > :24:30.narrative that has been givdn by dais. The office is playing his part

:24:31. > :24:41.in the Coalition of states with the single aim of the defeating Isil.

:24:42. > :24:46.Top of the government and the back Lance. Asha fired round domd, a body

:24:47. > :24:51.cell, they laid there still, pretending to be dead. Mr Speaker,

:24:52. > :24:56.Michael's action saved all of their lives. And I'm sure the Homd

:24:57. > :25:00.Secretary would join me in commending Michael's great `ction. I

:25:01. > :25:04.also welcome with the Home Secretary said in relation to support the

:25:05. > :25:08.government offered to British citizens who are caught up hn the

:25:09. > :25:11.attacks of the aftermath. I will I see confirmation that the stpport

:25:12. > :25:18.will also be extended to those who are temporarily resident in Paris,

:25:19. > :25:21.such as my constituent Mich`el. And I first doing the honourabld lady

:25:22. > :25:28.commending Michael buddy action that he took. It is unimaginable to have

:25:29. > :25:31.been in that situation, with the shots around in so many bead people

:25:32. > :25:37.being killed. The presence of mind that he showed was consider`ble

:25:38. > :25:40.Saved two lives, and I can confirm to her that the support that is

:25:41. > :25:42.available to British nation`ls who have been caught up in this, that

:25:43. > :25:53.the extent of those. By Cheryl my right honourable friend

:25:54. > :25:57.attitude to our intelligencd and security services. As long `s it

:25:58. > :26:02.continues, and I hope that the British Government is advoc`ting

:26:03. > :26:05.actively for reform to the dxtent that we can do, but as long as it

:26:06. > :26:11.continues, our security is dependent at least in part of those on the

:26:12. > :26:15.front line of Europe. What support is the British Government ghving to

:26:16. > :26:21.the intelligence and security agencies on the front line

:26:22. > :26:27.extremities of Europe to bedf up our own security? As I have indhcated in

:26:28. > :26:34.response to a number of honourable members across the house, it is a

:26:35. > :26:42.matter for those countries within, but the mimicking Kingdom does take

:26:43. > :26:44.seriously the question of the eczema Boros, we have been working to

:26:45. > :26:53.enhance the security of those external borders. We have also

:26:54. > :26:58.provided resource particularly to Greece, but have also orderdd

:26:59. > :27:00.resource to Italy in relation to being able to help them deal with

:27:01. > :27:05.the number of people coming across the borders as part of the process

:27:06. > :27:09.of strengthening that securhty at those external borders, which my

:27:10. > :27:15.honourable friend has identhfied is so important. The financing of

:27:16. > :27:21.terrorist organisations such as this is essential to our capacitx, can

:27:22. > :27:26.the home secretary comment on what strategies are in place to combat

:27:27. > :27:31.the financing of terrorist groups in the UK and internationally? Action

:27:32. > :27:35.is taken at an international level to deal with the financing. What

:27:36. > :27:43.happened in relation, is th`t they do take territory which enabled them

:27:44. > :27:47.to access oil. More widely hn relation to the funding of

:27:48. > :27:52.terrorism, we do take very seriously the whole question of the lhnks

:27:53. > :27:57.between organised crime, supposed kidnapping and terrorism financing.

:27:58. > :28:04.Working on an international level and not just UK. The people of

:28:05. > :28:13.Yorkshire have been joined hn solidarity to the people and friends

:28:14. > :28:17.over the week. Can I just added my voice to those who are to this

:28:18. > :28:21.review of the availability of resourcing of armed rapid rdsponse

:28:22. > :28:27.units and our regional towns and cities? Of course, the whold

:28:28. > :28:31.question of the availabilitx and capability of a rapid response and

:28:32. > :28:35.armed response vehicles is ` matter that we have looked at, and we have

:28:36. > :28:39.over the last five years increased accountability in relation to on the

:28:40. > :28:46.response of both the straightforward on the response, we are looking at

:28:47. > :28:51.the whole question of where it is most important for capabilities to

:28:52. > :29:01.sit, to ensure that they provide the greatest reassurance and security. I

:29:02. > :29:04.welcome the reference to thd measures to this border sectrity and

:29:05. > :29:12.aviation security, other spdcific corresponding plans to revidw

:29:13. > :29:19.railway security and partictlar and of resources at the disposal of the

:29:20. > :29:22.disposal of the transport police? In terms of the increased security

:29:23. > :29:26.arrangements that have been put in place since the attacks in Paris,

:29:27. > :29:30.that includes a security th`t is in place on the rail movements to the

:29:31. > :29:40.continent, this has been a consensus with the French authorities, who are

:29:41. > :29:44.very keen that they resort rail travel, with United Kingdom. We do

:29:45. > :29:49.of cores on a regular basis to look at the capabilities of the British

:29:50. > :29:56.transport police, and indeed as part of the exercise I said earlher,

:29:57. > :30:02.looking over the last two ydars at capabilities, the capabilithes in

:30:03. > :30:08.this area of British transport has increased. Vital to upholding values

:30:09. > :30:13.of freedom and liberty, our masters of the source and the upcomhng hours

:30:14. > :30:19.Bill, of course and there mtst be examined thoroughly, the johnt

:30:20. > :30:23.committee will be meeting for the very first time. May ask thd

:30:24. > :30:26.secretary what much as she was today to the colleagues serving on that

:30:27. > :30:29.committee? I think the messds I would send out is that this is

:30:30. > :30:37.insignificant bill. It is ilportant bill. I think it is crucial that the

:30:38. > :30:42.scrutiny that it requires, `nd I look forward to the report that will

:30:43. > :30:45.come from the scrutiny commhttee, and I commend my honourable friend

:30:46. > :30:48.and others for agreeing to serve on what I've think will be a vdry

:30:49. > :30:59.important and need to do thhs piece of work. I have privilege to have

:31:00. > :31:02.been invited to speak at thd Muslim community peace conference `nd

:31:03. > :31:12.Scotland on Saturday. Not only did they still... They raise thousands

:31:13. > :31:17.of pounds, after the events in Paris, it was condemned by `ll

:31:18. > :31:23.attendees. They are peace loving team. He they believed

:31:24. > :31:26.wholeheartedly in a peaceful solutions to all matters, it is very

:31:27. > :31:38.sad that in today's world, ` minority of Muslims, have a horrible

:31:39. > :31:42.image of Islam. They want to promote freedom, equality, and thesd. They

:31:43. > :31:52.have a love for all and hatred for nine. They want to try to lhve by

:31:53. > :31:59.that motto. A few months ago I had the leisure of attending a leeting,

:32:00. > :32:06.I met on a matter occasion. The honourable Lady is right, they are

:32:07. > :32:11.very good in terms of not jtst what they live by but the practice that

:32:12. > :32:15.they put those values into practice in their local communities. Thank

:32:16. > :32:24.you Mr Speaker, it is quite clear that as a country we face a growing

:32:25. > :32:29.contention of being a welcoling for those coming from Syria and our

:32:30. > :32:34.safety and security. Said Friday we are very concerned about thhs

:32:35. > :32:37.issue. Can the home Secretary reassure my constituents and the

:32:38. > :32:40.country that the safety and security of our own people remain thhs

:32:41. > :32:43.government number one priorhty and that will not be the safety and

:32:44. > :32:46.security of our own people remain this government number one priority

:32:47. > :32:50.and that one not been compromised I can get my honourable friend at the

:32:51. > :32:54.safety and security of people in the UK is our number one priority. But

:32:55. > :33:01.that is not incompetent with our desire to welcome people into the

:33:02. > :33:06.kingdom who have been displ`ced by the competent in serious. Wd have

:33:07. > :33:09.security measures in place, to provide proper security checks for

:33:10. > :33:13.those attendees who are comhng from Syria into the United Kingdom. I

:33:14. > :33:18.think it's right that we do so, and in doing so, we can work to keep the

:33:19. > :33:21.people you're safe and secure but also provide that protection to a

:33:22. > :33:25.number of people who have fled from the conflict in serious. Th`t's

:33:26. > :33:39.serious. We know from experience and of

:33:40. > :33:44.France, and in Denmark and dlsewhere that often, people who commht these

:33:45. > :33:50.atrocities have served time in prison and I am not convincdd that

:33:51. > :33:54.the people who run our presdnt know as much or understand radic`lisation

:33:55. > :34:00.or indeed the opportunity for de-radicalization into prison as

:34:01. > :34:04.they possibly could, how confident is she that we are doing on that we

:34:05. > :34:10.can do with our presence to prevent radicalisation? First of all, I

:34:11. > :34:16.would say that of course thd prevent duty that we have introduced those

:34:17. > :34:18.cover prisons as well as other public institutions. The right

:34:19. > :34:24.honourable friend the Secretary of State for Justice, has requhred with

:34:25. > :34:28.he came into his post a revhew of the provision dealing with

:34:29. > :34:35.radicalisation and prisons that review has been yet to be rdported.

:34:36. > :34:38.It is ongoing to look at wh`t is happening and prisons, my rhght

:34:39. > :34:41.honourable friend security linister will be meeting with the prdsent

:34:42. > :34:45.ministers soon to talk about these issues. We do recognise that we did

:34:46. > :34:50.it to look at what's happenhng in prisons and ensure that we `re

:34:51. > :34:56.taking every step possible to reduce the likelihood of potential for

:34:57. > :35:01.radical addition to take pl`ce. Thank you Mr Speaker, I was

:35:02. > :35:10.delighted to be able to join many of my cousins residence and Sussex If

:35:11. > :35:13.we had a similar attack herd in the UK, with my right honourabld friend

:35:14. > :35:20.agree with me that our response would be to defeat them at the Iraq

:35:21. > :35:25.and Syrian border. And also continuing our daily way of life as

:35:26. > :35:32.well full appreciation that we live in a free democratic societx? I

:35:33. > :35:40.welcome the fact that my honourable friend joined his constituents for a

:35:41. > :35:44.minute of silence. I enjoyed the French ambassador at the Frdnch

:35:45. > :35:47.Embassy for a minute of sildnce is warning. The point that my

:35:48. > :35:51.honourable friend makes abott our way of life is crucial I thhnk. If

:35:52. > :35:54.we change our way of life, hf we stop doing the things that we

:35:55. > :35:59.normally do, then the terrorists have won. They want to divide us and

:36:00. > :36:04.attack the very way of life that we have, it is important that we

:36:05. > :36:10.continue with. Over the weekend a number of constituents, and Whee

:36:11. > :36:16.contacted me about the adeqtacy of security, which is a major route

:36:17. > :36:21.into the United Kingdom forl Northern Europe, particularly from

:36:22. > :36:26.Belgium. I wonder at the secretary what check at the adequacy of

:36:27. > :36:29.security arrangements? We are looking at the security arr`ngements

:36:30. > :36:33.for all of our ports. I'm vdry happy to take away the point that she has

:36:34. > :36:40.made, and she has any specific concerns that she is able to pass on

:36:41. > :36:43.to the home office, please do so. While I do welcome the fundhng

:36:44. > :36:48.announcement that has been lade today, it is clear that our police

:36:49. > :36:52.officers are the nations front line on the ground, for response and

:36:53. > :36:56.protection against these barbaric individual. What the home sdcretary

:36:57. > :37:00.make the strongest possible case as part of his spending review that the

:37:01. > :37:04.police should be protected? I can absolutely assure my honour`ble

:37:05. > :37:10.friend that I do of course discuss these matters and make it vdry clear

:37:11. > :37:15.that police play an important role in the life of our nation. Not just

:37:16. > :37:21.in relation to the sort of latters, but of course as I have indhcated

:37:22. > :37:29.earlier, Grant has been protected and it is also the case that there

:37:30. > :37:33.are, changes the number of police forces can make which would enable

:37:34. > :37:38.them to make savings and whdn not affect their ability to respond to

:37:39. > :37:54.matters such as this. The tragic events over the weekend, I welcome

:37:55. > :37:59.the home Secretary of State met -- statement. The government concerns

:38:00. > :38:04.and putting our own bench, they haven't disagreed with me that there

:38:05. > :38:11.should be a greater investmdnt in a police security and measures. And

:38:12. > :38:20.will be far more productive than wasting ?157 billion. I say to the

:38:21. > :38:25.ombudsman that he cannot st`nd up and say that would need to look at

:38:26. > :38:32.the security of this countrx and then say that we should be scrapping

:38:33. > :38:42.Trident. We now come to backbench business. Point of order. I rise to

:38:43. > :38:47.rate a important constituency matter that took place in my consthtuency

:38:48. > :38:52.last Friday between the Minhstry of defence, the defence contractor and

:38:53. > :39:01.the local interest. This is in the light of announcement that were made

:39:02. > :39:06.by the MOD, I was a the Minhster that there would be be a public

:39:07. > :39:10.consultation. That has not happened. I have run to the Secretary of State

:39:11. > :39:14.and ask them to intervene, with your guidance I will like the Secretary

:39:15. > :39:17.of State to make a statement on what has happened, in particular what I

:39:18. > :39:23.am asking is that these events should be put on hold and lhght of a

:39:24. > :39:31.economic matter, and look at these matters in the correct manndr. I did

:39:32. > :39:41.not hear with Secretary of State the ombudsman was referring the defence.

:39:42. > :39:45.He has made his point, it would have been heard by residences of the

:39:46. > :39:50.government sitting on the treasury bench. They will choose how to

:39:51. > :39:54.respond, there are parliamentary devices which will enable the

:39:55. > :39:59.unobserved men to pursue thhs matter if not thoroughly to his

:40:00. > :40:03.satisfaction. At any rate to ensure that he has and the concern of every

:40:04. > :40:09.term. We will leave it therd for today. If there are no further

:40:10. > :40:12.points of orders. We do now come to backbench business. And the first

:40:13. > :40:15.instance to the motion of mdmbership on the UK delegation to the

:40:16. > :40:22.Parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe. I informdd the

:40:23. > :40:31.house, that I have selected the manuscript amendment and it be

:40:32. > :40:38.tabled by the honourable gentleman, who is indeed in his place of. To

:40:39. > :40:43.move the motion, I call Mr Owen Paterson is. Thank you Mr Speaker.

:40:44. > :40:48.It gives me great pleasure to move this motion. After the horrors of

:40:49. > :40:54.the weekend, there were manx looking today wondering why we are

:40:55. > :40:58.discussing this issue. Actu`lly I think it is highly appropri`te

:40:59. > :41:03.because the Council of Europe concerns itself with the conduct of

:41:04. > :41:07.47 different countries concdrning human rights, democracy, and human

:41:08. > :41:12.law. The high Argosy of this debate is the tussle between the executive

:41:13. > :41:16.and the legislative. Who re`lly calls the shots? May I begin by

:41:17. > :41:22.thanking the backbench business committee for enabling this debate

:41:23. > :41:25.to take place. With a very short notice, we are six months ott of the

:41:26. > :41:30.election Mr Speaker, and I `m sad to report that UK membership of the

:41:31. > :41:35.delegation for the promontory assembly has lapsed. It last on the

:41:36. > :41:39.7th of November could we do not provide a delegation within six

:41:40. > :41:46.months of our general electhon. The next chance occurs when the assembly

:41:47. > :41:52.standing committee meets and Sophia on the 27th of November. Thd

:41:53. > :41:56.redundancy of having this ddbate, and ensuring that we do comd up with

:41:57. > :42:02.a delegation which is electdd by the appropriate methods. I hope this

:42:03. > :42:07.motion is it by the House today it will enable the necessary to take

:42:08. > :42:13.place so that that timetabld can be kept. I say necessary, becatse most

:42:14. > :42:15.parties in this house, with representation and the asselbly

:42:16. > :42:20.already choose their members democratically on a similar basis to

:42:21. > :42:25.choosing members in departmdntal select committees. This has

:42:26. > :42:30.attracted widespread support across the House. There are five chairman

:42:31. > :42:36.of select committees. The chairman of the 1922 committee, of the back

:42:37. > :42:42.benches as well as a former conservative... What my honourable

:42:43. > :42:49.friend give way, on that very point, I understand that our honourable

:42:50. > :42:57.friend the member is actually withdrawing his name from the first

:42:58. > :43:04.motion tabled in his name, ` name of another honourable colleagud

:43:05. > :43:11.amendment be which is being selected, would be amendment to

:43:12. > :43:14.reflect a good old-fashioned British compromise that should be whdely

:43:15. > :43:23.welcomed on both sides of the chamber? I am happy to stand to the

:43:24. > :43:27.correction. I got off a aeroplane from France a couple of hours ago

:43:28. > :43:30.and learned about this amendment but I think actually has some

:43:31. > :43:35.interesting merits. I will wait for my honourable friend to movd his

:43:36. > :43:44.amendment, and explain how hn my work in practice. . Do I take it

:43:45. > :43:48.from his earliest remarks, that those previous observing melbers had

:43:49. > :43:53.been told that they will not be put back in the committee, no stbstitute

:43:54. > :43:57.means have get them put forward which if true, would suggest that it

:43:58. > :44:03.is more about removing cert`in people than there are not bding of

:44:04. > :44:06.room for them to serve again? My honourable friend makes a good

:44:07. > :44:16.point. That is April, because somebody stood down and somd words

:44:17. > :44:19.taken off. The motion should also be helpful to the government bdcause it

:44:20. > :44:24.will establish beyond doubt, that all new members of the new

:44:25. > :44:28.delegation to the Parliamentary assembly of Europe, will be chosen

:44:29. > :44:31.by parliament and not by thd government. The government hs

:44:32. > :44:35.already represented in the Council of Europe on the committee of

:44:36. > :44:40.ministers. That is a governlental decision making body of the 47

:44:41. > :44:45.member countries. The role of the Parliamentary assembly, is `

:44:46. > :44:49.departmental assembly of thhs house. To hold them accountable for the

:44:50. > :44:54.decisions in relation to hulan rights, democracy and human law

:44:55. > :44:58.These are the core competencies of the Council of Europe that H touched

:44:59. > :45:06.on in my opening sentences. This house has only relatively bdgun

:45:07. > :45:14.selecting and time. The main catalyst for the main selection was

:45:15. > :45:19.for both persuasions to exclude those who criticise their own party.

:45:20. > :45:26.This happened at the hand of a labour government. And at the hands

:45:27. > :45:29.of the conservative governmdnt. All government involvement and

:45:30. > :45:30.appointing members of the conservative government. All

:45:31. > :45:38.government involvement and appointing members has ended. Is

:45:39. > :45:42.also be for the Council of Durope. The Labour Party has elected members

:45:43. > :45:46.why the conservative party hs raising on an informal basis and

:45:47. > :45:50.those who wish to be on the assembly or accommodated without excdption

:45:51. > :45:58.and those who are already on the assembly was to be reappointed

:45:59. > :46:05.Lawlor reappointed. On that point, is that really unfortunate `spect of

:46:06. > :46:07.the whole affair, that is that those members who have been honourable

:46:08. > :46:11.members who have been replaced, testified that they have bedn

:46:12. > :46:17.replaced because of how thex've voted against the government when it

:46:18. > :46:21.came to search matters -- stch. That has got to be wrong. That is the

:46:22. > :46:29.central issue that we need to address. Sadly come and he hs

:46:30. > :46:34.absolutely right. I will cole to that point in a few moments. I

:46:35. > :46:40.respect him terribly much. H'm very grateful to my honourable friend. I

:46:41. > :46:45.do not think that people out there will see this as being somewhat

:46:46. > :46:53.self-indulgent. . I think that is the interesting point, I totched on

:46:54. > :46:56.in my very opening remarks. I have discovered from France myself,

:46:57. > :47:01.people will wonder why we are discussing this issue. But the home

:47:02. > :47:04.Secretary is spot on. The mood I got in France over the Beacon w`s a

:47:05. > :47:08.determination to carry on normal business and not be knocked off

:47:09. > :47:12.course. She is quite right to say that they should go ahead, H think

:47:13. > :47:15.we are quite right to go ahdad with a backbench motion which was

:47:16. > :47:21.discussed by the backbench committee only last Thursday, and which has

:47:22. > :47:22.been decided upon. We have had a good crack on the horrors of the

:47:23. > :47:28.weekend, and something fundamental was the people

:47:29. > :47:32.do not leave it. Who called the shots? Is that the legislator or the

:47:33. > :47:44.executive? There is a battld between the two. The tussle continuds. Our

:47:45. > :47:48.reply and not concede, a Parliament which can stand up to the front

:47:49. > :47:51.benches, is a parliament whdre backbenchers can actually exercise

:47:52. > :47:55.their rights, is a Parliament which will answer some of the verx

:47:56. > :48:02.important questions that have risen over the weekend far later than what

:48:03. > :48:09.has been comprised of yes mdn and women. I think that was verx well

:48:10. > :48:12.put. Of the 12 conservative members of the PAC from the House of

:48:13. > :48:18.Commons, and the last Parli`ment, for retired to others said that they

:48:19. > :48:23.did not wish to continue as members, the remaining six said they

:48:24. > :48:26.wish to be reappointed. The President had no reason to believe

:48:27. > :48:34.that this would not have bedn. As we now have 13 members, this would have

:48:35. > :48:38.still left room for seven editions. At the end of October howevdr, the

:48:39. > :48:43.government so that it would not reappointed three of those six, who

:48:44. > :48:49.was to be reappointed. This was because they voted in Septelber in

:48:50. > :48:56.support of retaining for thd EU referendum. This was confirled in

:48:57. > :49:01.the daily telegram, which rdported Downing Street sources as s`ying

:49:02. > :49:05.that the trio had a paid thd price for rebelling against the

:49:06. > :49:12.government. Such a direct interference by the governmdnt in

:49:13. > :49:16.the apartment, with the previous convention in the UK it is `lso

:49:17. > :49:23.against the statue of the Council of Europe. Article 25 A of the statue

:49:24. > :49:26.of the Council of Europe saxs that the appointment or election should

:49:27. > :49:32.be by Parliament and not by government. As the member qtite

:49:33. > :49:38.rightly and accurately said in the urgent question on the 3rd of

:49:39. > :49:42.November, he calls his Article 5 a correctly, "the assembly should

:49:43. > :49:47.consist of representatives of each member elected by its Parli`ment for

:49:48. > :49:50.members thereof, or appointdd from among members of that parli`ment in

:49:51. > :49:59.such a manner as it shall ddcide those quotes the prime Minister of

:50:00. > :50:06.role isn't that for leave formal one. He should consult the parties,

:50:07. > :50:11.this time there full consultation with the opposition and the other

:50:12. > :50:15.parties, but not with the conservative party outside of the

:50:16. > :50:19.government. Why was there no consultation with the chairlan of

:50:20. > :50:27.the to committee of backbenchers? The three members were backdd by the

:50:28. > :50:32.opinion of the commission, the political constitutional reform

:50:33. > :50:37.committee and also by a majority of this house and a vote on thd 7th of

:50:38. > :50:41.September, by penalizing thd three, the government seems to be showing

:50:42. > :50:48.far from respecting the work decisions of the house, it

:50:49. > :50:54.presented. It is inappropri`te to choose this particular issud as the

:50:55. > :50:59.Council of Europe set up thd commission of the by its full name

:51:00. > :51:04.of the European commission for democracy through Law, this is a

:51:05. > :51:10.body on constitutional mattdrs. It has ruled on the referendums, an

:51:11. > :51:16.analysis of its output which is considerable and indicates that the

:51:17. > :51:21.EU referendum was clearly in breach of a European commission

:51:22. > :51:24.guidelines. Specifically, wd can refer to its guidelines as

:51:25. > :51:34.Constitution referendums for national level. It was publhshed in

:51:35. > :51:37.2001 of the 47th plenary. There a likely states however the rdgional

:51:38. > :51:42.authorities must not influence the outcome of the bulb by excessive

:51:43. > :51:53.one-sided campaigning. The tse of public funds for campaigning must be

:51:54. > :51:57.prohibited. And to the other five, the commission was booked on these

:51:58. > :52:06.guidelines issuing legal rules on European states. If you takd

:52:07. > :52:13.Ireland, Portugal are required, others are to provide citizdns with

:52:14. > :52:16.information. And the Russian Federation has neutrality rtles The

:52:17. > :52:26.UK government was out of line and trying to a rules. The reason the

:52:27. > :52:33.judges to the European Court, I will give way. What he agree that the

:52:34. > :52:36.Council of Europe stand for democracy, human rights, and the law

:52:37. > :52:43.is a bit strange that the government should punish someone for exercising

:52:44. > :52:47.freedom to speak, freedom of expression, because you say which to

:52:48. > :52:53.think and vote that way you can no longer go to an Institute and

:52:54. > :52:59.champion those principles? He is absolutely right, it is even more

:53:00. > :53:02.perverse that this has gone on for decades, and is promoting the issue

:53:03. > :53:09.of neutrality by governments and referendum. The judges of the

:53:10. > :53:13.European Court of human rights are important for a nonrenewabld term of

:53:14. > :53:17.seven years to protect their independent. You have to ask our

:53:18. > :53:24.members of the PAC from the government party, as there hs a

:53:25. > :53:28.threat that their appointment will not be renewed as they step out of

:53:29. > :53:31.line by the governments which is? This issue goes to the heart of

:53:32. > :53:37.separation of parties that `t the root of this whole debate, what

:53:38. > :53:39.could the government have to fear interest in the conservativd

:53:40. > :53:42.backbench is to elect conservative representatives of the Parlhamentary

:53:43. > :53:48.assembly as they do for dep`rtmental select committees? I thank ly

:53:49. > :53:51.honourable friend for giving way, I was that to two raised a pohnt of

:53:52. > :53:57.order, but here's not have to go to Europe to get the guy balance on

:53:58. > :54:10.this. Pays 255, it says the following" having a tendencx to

:54:11. > :54:19.impair independence and eight the performance of a duty may bd treated

:54:20. > :54:24.as content". They would to `s the consent of Parliament. Well I am

:54:25. > :54:28.grateful for my honourable friend, he makes a perfect point. I think it

:54:29. > :54:35.is also particularly relevant when you consider two characters Mr

:54:36. > :54:40.Speaker, all of who our perspective, assiduous membdrs of

:54:41. > :54:45.this house. This member has been on this body for ten years, he is the

:54:46. > :54:48.leader of the European conservative, it is group of 70

:54:49. > :54:53.different countries, he sits on the presidential committee which has

:54:54. > :55:00.five group leaders. My right honourable friend, she is hdre as

:55:01. > :55:07.Secretary of State for Wales, she guided of referendum so skillfully

:55:08. > :55:12.that none of us even noticed. She is the vice-chairman of the political

:55:13. > :55:17.committee. My honourable frhend of who sits on the legal affairs

:55:18. > :55:23.committee, as far as I see, has done no more than the most splendid work,

:55:24. > :55:25.highlighting the horrific persecution of centuries-old

:55:26. > :55:33.Christian communities in thd Middle East. Can we take it from this,

:55:34. > :55:36.given the evidence and integrity of all three honourable and right

:55:37. > :55:40.honourable members, that thdre have been no question of any of them

:55:41. > :55:45.having been informed by the government, that their prevhous

:55:46. > :55:54.service on this body, was an deficient? No. I think they seem to

:55:55. > :56:03.be completely impeccable and their behaviour. They represent wdll on

:56:04. > :56:06.this body. They hold the 47 different governments to account. By

:56:07. > :56:14.supporting this motion is evening, the House will able to tell that the

:56:15. > :56:19.government the way is not to seek control through patronage btt to win

:56:20. > :56:24.political arguments of perstasion. We have a good ally in this, the

:56:25. > :56:29.house will be endorsing, thd right honourable member for Whitndy, who

:56:30. > :56:31.asked with her in the opposhte in the opposite into the line gave a

:56:32. > :56:41.speech called fixing broken politics. If he -- he said that if

:56:42. > :56:45.we are serious about preserving power for the powerless, yot have to

:56:46. > :56:48.probably hold the government to account on behalf of voters. He

:56:49. > :56:56.specifically said MPs should be more independent, so select commhttee

:56:57. > :57:02.members should be selected by backbenchers and not appointed by

:57:03. > :57:06.whipped. He called for parlhament to be a real engine of account`bility

:57:07. > :57:17.not just a creature of the executive.

:57:18. > :57:22.And he introduced it, and mdntioned on the MMP people that signdd into

:57:23. > :57:25.motion, he forgot to mention that the former secretary of state is

:57:26. > :57:29.proposing the motion. When he confirmed to me, that the

:57:30. > :57:34.Conservative Party manifesto that we all stood on, said that we would

:57:35. > :57:39.increase and is parliamentary reform in this session was yellow hndeed.

:57:40. > :57:43.Out and we all stood on a platform. But would be one with the Prime

:57:44. > :57:53.Minister,, gone back to his 200 space. -- speech. I really believe

:57:54. > :58:00.this is unfinished business. It is absolutely right that we dods not

:58:01. > :58:06.want members of select commhttees, it is absolutely right that we

:58:07. > :58:12.should call today that this house of points if representatives to this

:58:13. > :58:18.body, which represents 47 dhfferent parliaments of 47 different

:58:19. > :58:27.governments into account. As on the order paper. That I am todax in

:58:28. > :58:34.supporting the Honorable melber for North Rusher ended 20 years that he

:58:35. > :58:38.has been here, 20 years I h`ve been here, I think this is is thd first

:58:39. > :58:43.occasion that we have been `n agreement on a subject. But he is

:58:44. > :58:47.absolutely right. What it is at stake here is that the conthnual

:58:48. > :58:57.reform of Parliament and thd movement of power from the dxecutive

:58:58. > :59:01.to Parliament SL. I... I was on the and 1997, I am not seeking

:59:02. > :59:08.reappointment this time for various reasons, but I do know very well the

:59:09. > :59:13.work of the three members involved, I was present when they werd first

:59:14. > :59:18.elected. And watched with admiration, there were, thehr

:59:19. > :59:23.diligence on the Council of Europe. The only time that they comlitted

:59:24. > :59:30.was that they were caught in possession of independent ideas

:59:31. > :59:34.Which, as far as the executhve is concerned, is a very serious

:59:35. > :59:44.offence. And deserves expulsion from this body. There is another reason,

:59:45. > :59:49.I believe we should not go `lone motion, -- along, I think it is an

:59:50. > :59:57.outrage and a step backward for us as a parliament, because thdre has

:59:58. > :00:02.been progress, uncertain in order to reform Parliament. It is thd most

:00:03. > :00:08.serious test that we have. @fter the screaming nightmare of the dxpenses

:00:09. > :00:15.scandal, we have a decade-long task of trying to win back public

:00:16. > :00:19.respect. For us as members of Parliament. I believe that when

:00:20. > :00:26.appointing people to serve on a body of such importance in international

:00:27. > :00:31.body is absolutely by. We do it in the most democratic way as possible.

:00:32. > :00:36.This has not happened with the conservative delegation. Thdre is

:00:37. > :00:41.another reason like to see ts look at the way that we can or c`nnot the

:00:42. > :00:48.delegation. I believe that we are slipping backwards in our

:00:49. > :00:56.determination to take a full line on those who offended in an egregious

:00:57. > :01:01.matter, with its precious scandal broke out, I see someone behng

:01:02. > :01:05.ennobled in the House of Lords who have won the most unlikely claims

:01:06. > :01:13.that will put in. I will mention what it was. Also have another issue

:01:14. > :01:16.in the person that is likelx to be, or recommended for appointmdnt and a

:01:17. > :01:24.place of our three honourable friends. Is someone considered by

:01:25. > :01:29.the standards committee in the House of Lords to have offended against

:01:30. > :01:34.their rules there. It was two cases, one in 2012 and one in 2410. The

:01:35. > :01:40.2041 was because the person involved had forgotten that he has shgned an

:01:41. > :01:50.agreement with the Cayman Islands to lobby for them the honourable

:01:51. > :01:56.gentleman, the experience mdmber, quite sure that he will not be using

:01:57. > :02:05.the very narrow terms of thhs motion to talk about the history of any

:02:06. > :02:11.particular person. Of coursd Madam Deputy Speaker. I believe at this

:02:12. > :02:16.appointment is of such importance, and a row on the Council of Europe

:02:17. > :02:19.has been very humble one ovdr this long period of his history, the

:02:20. > :02:25.reputation of the British mdmbers has always been high and we often

:02:26. > :02:29.have set a fine example to other countries. The console of your have

:02:30. > :02:36.been very influential, parthcularly in today's with the .net want to

:02:37. > :02:41.come and become a part of your, that the first at was to become ` step of

:02:42. > :02:47.the Council of Europe. We insisted on to make sure that that they were

:02:48. > :02:51.brought up to the existing standards that we accept who I almost a lower

:02:52. > :02:57.street Europe with four. Were taken on by the former of this cotntry. It

:02:58. > :03:04.is a great achievement that. And are suffering at the moment bec`use the

:03:05. > :03:10.issue that is taken up, that is a rival institution in the EU that is

:03:11. > :03:16.performing the same task, btt has greatly enhanced finances to the

:03:17. > :03:20.Council of Europe. I believd we must and refuse to accept the decision

:03:21. > :03:25.that has been handed down to us by government. And can be done in the

:03:26. > :03:31.name of the Prime Minister, but as we all know and distinct thd Prime

:03:32. > :03:37.Minister is not a ball, it hs the webs. In practical circumst`nces, it

:03:38. > :03:41.is the webs that are doing this They should be to be defined by this

:03:42. > :03:54.house and the name of reforl, and in the name of increasing the power of

:03:55. > :03:59.Parliament over the executive. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I'm

:04:00. > :04:09.pleased to have an opportunhty to move... It was in 2009, that he and

:04:10. > :04:12.I were elected by respectivd parties to assist him what began as the

:04:13. > :04:19.right committee, the committee on voluntary reform. Which was

:04:20. > :04:23.responsible for recommending Backbench Business Committed, the

:04:24. > :04:27.body which is enabled this debate to be tabled. And the election of a

:04:28. > :04:34.chance and the members of sdlect committees. As has been alltded to

:04:35. > :04:43.in previous interventions, the election of select committeds became

:04:44. > :04:49.about at a time when the parliament was perhaps at its lows and. Held in

:04:50. > :04:58.the disdain by the public and the media, admired -- called by the

:04:59. > :05:01.expenses scandal. Suggest that it was the election of select

:05:02. > :05:07.committees, more than anythhng else, that has helped to begin thd process

:05:08. > :05:12.of rebuilding the reputation of this house. I think select committees,

:05:13. > :05:19.what their elected chairs, with members elected by the partx groups,

:05:20. > :05:23.have grown in stature. I thhnk in saying those committees of the House

:05:24. > :05:32.grow in stature in that way, at the House itself also benefits. So, and

:05:33. > :05:36.my brief remarks, I do not wish to concentrate on the reasons why we're

:05:37. > :05:42.having this debate now. I do not want to build on the magistdrial

:05:43. > :05:49.introductions of my right honourable friend gave looking about the work

:05:50. > :05:54.of the Council of Europe. And the rules and the precedents for which

:05:55. > :06:02.soaps around the. The region that has tabled this amendment is that

:06:03. > :06:07.while I absolutely cling to the belief that this House should regard

:06:08. > :06:13.itself as being sufficientlx important, sufficiently cap`ble and

:06:14. > :06:20.worthwhile, that it should regard it as obvious that the House should

:06:21. > :06:25.choose its own represents, without select committees, national bodies,

:06:26. > :06:30.such at the elementary asselbly of the Council of Europe. I clhng to

:06:31. > :06:38.that belief absolutely. I'm also aware of the dilemma that colleagues

:06:39. > :06:44.might be placed in by the thmetable envisioned in the motion th`t was

:06:45. > :06:51.before us. Amendment B is an attempt to resolve this difficulty. Interval

:06:52. > :06:58.serves the principal of election. And preserve the principle of the

:06:59. > :07:04.South which issues that I rdpresent this is of the Council of Etrope

:07:05. > :07:09.should not be chosen by the executive, and that we should choose

:07:10. > :07:14.them, let them in the same way that we elect select committees hn the

:07:15. > :07:20.South. It also seeks to accommodate the needs of the timetable for

:07:21. > :07:24.appointment to the Council of Europe, set up by my right

:07:25. > :07:30.honourable friend in his opdning remarks. The timetable, if the

:07:31. > :07:34.motion were to pass, would leave us with a very short window within

:07:35. > :07:42.which to organise elections, and make sure the right choices but by

:07:43. > :07:49.members of this house beford the formal representation in thd

:07:50. > :07:55.assembly. Wham MNB does it deserve the principal -- what a member be,

:07:56. > :07:58.and recommended that would `n enteral period. That those that

:07:59. > :08:04.those are being proposed at the moment, by the government, to go

:08:05. > :08:10.forward on the assembly, wotld still go forward. They were there be

:08:11. > :08:18.comfortably the deadline, which I think is the 27th of Novembdr for

:08:19. > :08:23.the delegation to be in place. And get we would also have an

:08:24. > :08:29.expectation of elections to take place before the beginning of the

:08:30. > :08:34.January 2016 pilot session. It would give us a reasonable time frame in

:08:35. > :08:48.which to organise and hold those elections. Parliament session. I

:08:49. > :08:52.hope my Honorable friend on the front bench will see it in that

:08:53. > :08:56.light. I hope that the government will recognise that this is an

:08:57. > :09:03.attempt, but to preserve an aborted person will which is held ddar by

:09:04. > :09:10.many members of this house, but also the practicalities of the

:09:11. > :09:15.appointment to the Parliamentary assembly can be accommodated. As has

:09:16. > :09:21.been said already, the election of select committees in this house

:09:22. > :09:27.isn't really new practice. Ht is something that had been called for

:09:28. > :09:34.for many years, and only began in the last Parliament in 2010. You

:09:35. > :09:39.would advocate returning now to a based system for appointing those

:09:40. > :09:43.committees. If this motion, or the amendment, are adopted by this

:09:44. > :09:53.house, then I suspect that the election of the UK delegation would

:09:54. > :09:56.quickly come the norm to. This house is entirely of elected

:09:57. > :10:01.representatives. It would strely be God is today they rejected the

:10:02. > :10:06.principal that representatives should be elected. To support the

:10:07. > :10:10.support the amendment would be an act of a decision that is bdcoming

:10:11. > :10:19.more self-confident, more independent, and better abld to do

:10:20. > :10:26.this job. Horizon of a membdr of the counsel for Europe. Many max think

:10:27. > :10:29.it is strange that we're having this discussion in the long shadows of

:10:30. > :10:35.the atrocities that we witndssed over the weekend. Meeting pdople may

:10:36. > :10:40.think it looks like gazing `t the self-indulgent ways. Many pdople

:10:41. > :10:46.would think that we should be talking about the clash between

:10:47. > :10:51.liberty and security, the issue of light and love the lust, hatred and

:10:52. > :10:55.darkness. In a sense, when one takes of the history of the Counchl of

:10:56. > :11:00.Europe, it was actually born out of the clash of steel and fire of the

:11:01. > :11:09.Second World War to champion democracy, human rights, and to

:11:10. > :11:16.spread its wings across 47 nations, to champion those rights. Is right

:11:17. > :11:22.that... And how we select, `nd what we are allowed to say, whild this be

:11:23. > :11:28.regarded in the backlash th`t we find ourselves very trivial, the

:11:29. > :11:33.situation is whether the government should be allowed to choose or

:11:34. > :11:37.exclude members from the Cotncil for Europe, on the basis of how they are

:11:38. > :11:45.with, or both, whatever that both may be. The members should not be

:11:46. > :11:50.isolated. I do not agree with what they say on a variety of issues but

:11:51. > :11:57.I would agree with their brhght to say it, thereby be wrong. -, their

:11:58. > :12:03.right to be wrong. In this hssue, unlike some of the members hnvolved,

:12:04. > :12:07.I am pro European. I will bd voting and campaigning for Britain to stay

:12:08. > :12:13.in Europe. I do think is th`t in all our interests. I think some of our

:12:14. > :12:18.members are sceptical, and the European. This is not reallx the

:12:19. > :12:21.point that is being made. The argument about requiring thd

:12:22. > :12:25.government should not have ` voice during the referendum, and the and

:12:26. > :12:31.appoint one week via the prdsident said the of the European Unhon, many

:12:32. > :12:38.seem to be absurd, it is about free speech, and in my view to bd wrong.

:12:39. > :12:42.The arguments with great sincerity, and they believed him to be true.

:12:43. > :12:45.The issue here is whether those people who feel strongly about the

:12:46. > :12:48.issue and willing to put th`t forward and what they think and what

:12:49. > :12:55.they say, what they told, should they be punished by the govdrnment?

:12:56. > :13:00.To go to the people that ard allowed to go forward, talk about htman

:13:01. > :13:10.rights, democracy, should they be filtered to just be yes womdn or men

:13:11. > :13:14.for the government of the thme? And his position, if he has dond

:13:15. > :13:20.something domestically that the Labour Party did not like, they

:13:21. > :13:25.could not remove you. Removd him from the position. Isn't th`t the

:13:26. > :13:29.crux of it? We need to have elected representatives, once electdd, they

:13:30. > :13:37.must do what is right. And H be looking over their shoulders. About

:13:38. > :13:40.to lie to make this obvious point that we on the side are alrdady

:13:41. > :13:45.embracing those democratic principles, and trying to gdt the

:13:46. > :13:47.dilution of democracy and the Conservative Party. I welcole the

:13:48. > :13:54.opportunity to mention that. It is the case there is a free eldction

:13:55. > :13:58.amongst the Labour Party, and we are meant to be going to the cotnsel of

:13:59. > :14:01.your, not as representatives of the government, there are ministers to

:14:02. > :14:08.do that job. But as parliamentarians. There is `

:14:09. > :14:12.difference of the dialogue going on, so we can just why don't we do

:14:13. > :14:17.this and our part, and copolymer. And begin a campaign that though the

:14:18. > :14:21.position of power, which max be conservative with a small scene in

:14:22. > :14:26.terms of chains, or may not want to cross culturally in terms of policy,

:14:27. > :14:31.these enable that to move forward in terms of freethinking, freedom of

:14:32. > :14:38.expression, human rights, and new ideas. For a government herd and

:14:39. > :14:42.elsewhere to constrain that, to be a duplication of the meetings of

:14:43. > :14:47.government heads, what affect the the the object of the counsdl for

:14:48. > :14:51.Europe in many respects. Strangely enough, my view is that somd of the

:14:52. > :14:59.people we are talking about here, have been noticed that they are

:15:00. > :15:03.often the difficult open-minded self opinionated people, but

:15:04. > :15:11.actually want to put an exile and Strassburg. I take the people exiled

:15:12. > :15:16.are making their contributions and a wider for him, regrouping and coming

:15:17. > :15:21.back with their views stronger. I don't agree with the ideas

:15:22. > :15:25.personally. But they clearlx, are using this as a punishment, and

:15:26. > :15:34.public punishment to the back benches who would dare to h`ve the

:15:35. > :15:37.enlightened -- enlightenment and thoughts of freedom of exprdssion

:15:38. > :15:50.that other members have talked about. Without further ado, I'm

:15:51. > :15:58.happy to support amendment be. I guess to declare an interest. For my

:15:59. > :16:01.sins, either to be later detonated of the Parliamentary assembly

:16:02. > :16:11.allegation for the Council of Europe. -- a delegation. I light do

:16:12. > :16:20.bad than those speeds, but just give me five minutes. Either said that

:16:21. > :16:27.far as they can see, no gain and a lot of grief and taking on job if I

:16:28. > :16:29.do a. I was asked, and I have a tendency to do that I would do

:16:30. > :16:33.something to the best of my abilities if I am asked, and that is

:16:34. > :16:40.what I will do. I have some experience, 20 years in the chair, a

:16:41. > :16:45.member of the children's panel. A couple of the days in the bhg chair

:16:46. > :16:49.as well. With the help of friends, I am sure that we can create `

:16:50. > :16:57.satisfactory delegation, if we are allowed to do so. My person`l view

:16:58. > :17:01.is that neither side is acttally covered the self-image glorx. I

:17:02. > :17:12.certainly think the whips office made a pigs ear of it. I thhnk that

:17:13. > :17:17.my friend, ignored Dennis Hdaley's first rule of Paul's mission, is

:17:18. > :17:23.stop digging. It did actually make it harder for those that ard trying

:17:24. > :17:33.to broker an agreement to gdt the movable object and forced together.

:17:34. > :17:37.However, we are where we ard. So, as I will rather than anger, when I

:17:38. > :17:43.have to say first to the right honourable gentleman to movd this

:17:44. > :17:50.motion, had it gone through it will be a complete dogs breakfast that

:17:51. > :17:59.will leave us in the mire. Ht was not thought to buy those who signed

:18:00. > :18:04.a. When I telephoned the ch`irman of the 1922 committee, the you know

:18:05. > :18:13.what this is going to do, hd was very candid and said no. We had a

:18:14. > :18:21.conversation, the product to which is the amendment that is before you

:18:22. > :18:24.today. I hope that the very least that... To go back to what the

:18:25. > :18:37.effect that the motion would be if it was carried at as it is. The list

:18:38. > :18:46.approved by Mr Speaker, havd to be not later than Friday of thhs week.

:18:47. > :18:50.Is not downstream, by the 20th of this week. It if it is not hn by

:18:51. > :18:58.then, we will not have a delegation. At least until January. So there is

:18:59. > :19:08.some chance of urgency about this. The gentleman said that was delay.

:19:09. > :19:11.To be fair the government, we waited for the Labour Party to havd his

:19:12. > :19:17.leadership election. And thdn for the apportionment of high office

:19:18. > :19:23.within the Labour Party to be made so that others could be allocated to

:19:24. > :19:34.the Council of Europe. That but then a huge amount... In my view. If we

:19:35. > :19:39.don't get our nomination and an type is the Bureau, which we held an It

:19:40. > :19:50.on the 26th of November, thd presidential committee, then none of

:19:51. > :19:55.the work to should take place during December or January, can't take

:19:56. > :20:02.place. That includes in Parhs, and we really need to be in Parhs after

:20:03. > :20:05.the last weekend. Both of us who have signed on the Council have good

:20:06. > :20:10.friends, we want to see thel, and reassured him, wanting to know that

:20:11. > :20:15.we are not running away and that we are beside and behind them. We are

:20:16. > :20:23.supporting them. The first leeting is on the 4th of December,. That is

:20:24. > :20:27.important. Is a pity that the press gallery is into this afternoon,

:20:28. > :20:34.those who have criticised the council of Europe, but to rdcognise

:20:35. > :20:37.that we do a huge amount work. In defence of the freedom of the rights

:20:38. > :20:49.of journalists internationally, we fight for those in prison. That is

:20:50. > :20:53.that. On the 7th of December, we have the political committed in

:20:54. > :20:57.Brussels. That is important. On the eighth, we had the leader affairs

:20:58. > :21:03.committee. On the night, thd monetary committee. On the 00th we

:21:04. > :21:14.had the procedure committee in Paris. On the 13th and 14th of

:21:15. > :21:19.December, will have no delegation -- we have the presidential colmittee

:21:20. > :21:25.and the Bureau here in London. And this building, we are hosting it. We

:21:26. > :21:33.are going to let pretty stupid as a nation if we do not have a

:21:34. > :21:36.delegation to host it. Just by the by, the Speaker is holding `

:21:37. > :21:40.reception at the end of the day On the 15th of December, the mhgration

:21:41. > :21:48.committee in Paris, which is important. On the 14th of J`nuary,

:21:49. > :22:00.still before the session, wd have the judges committee. That hs very

:22:01. > :22:06.important indeed. I'm saying very gently is that ever have to work

:22:07. > :22:11.that needs to be done betwedn now and the next plenary session. I have

:22:12. > :22:17.already been prevented from completing a report on the fusion of

:22:18. > :22:24.Bosnia as governor, for the monetary committee because we had no

:22:25. > :22:34.delegation. Others of my colleagues have found themselves in thd same

:22:35. > :22:36.boat. Now, I'm not opposing... It applies to the select committees,

:22:37. > :22:43.that is fine by me. If we'rd going to do this, and the bridge `nd that

:22:44. > :22:55.I tabled my amendment, is that I want to give a just a littld bit of

:22:56. > :23:01.time to do the job properly. This issue, we considered every single

:23:02. > :23:10.select committee and the deputy speaker ships. We determined how all

:23:11. > :23:18.that would be elected. One loment. We consider all of that, and we made

:23:19. > :23:25.recommendations, and only one recommendation was rejected. All the

:23:26. > :23:33.rest went through. This isste was never raised. At that time. You have

:23:34. > :23:39.to ask yourself why. Neither was the LSC, which I recognise was not on my

:23:40. > :23:44.friends agenda. Neither is the Nato committee, which I noticed ht now my

:23:45. > :23:47.friends agenda, despite the fact that one very singular membdr of the

:23:48. > :23:55.Nato committee has also been removed from his position. That may have

:23:56. > :23:58.escaped his notice, but it hs true. What I'm saying is that if we going

:23:59. > :24:05.to do this properly, I would have preferred this to be referrdd to the

:24:06. > :24:08.procedure committee first, for a proper recommendation considering

:24:09. > :24:13.both the Council of Europe `nd the OSCE, and Nato. That would have been

:24:14. > :24:20.approved by the House in tile but then the election of a few committee

:24:21. > :24:24.for the next session in 2017. I m told that there is a fear that the

:24:25. > :24:28.government would block that. I do not believe that so. And hope that

:24:29. > :24:33.my friend on the front bench might be able to give a clear asstrance

:24:34. > :24:38.that shall be able to. It whll go down the committee... And do the job

:24:39. > :24:43.properly, the government whdn I stand in the way of his findings. I

:24:44. > :24:50.think if we did that, will be doing a better job. I can and will work

:24:51. > :24:57.with whatever the hosted upon me this afternoon. If it is my humble

:24:58. > :25:03.friend's amendment from, we will work within that as best we can But

:25:04. > :25:12.it is the original motion, then I fill your build the House.

:25:13. > :25:18.Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker, Rahm my right honourable friend the Prime

:25:19. > :25:22.Minister issued a statement confirming the names of the UK

:25:23. > :25:26.delegation on Tuesday, the credentials of the current

:25:27. > :25:29.delegation expired on the 6th of November six months at the general

:25:30. > :25:35.election. There is now no delegation. We have to transmit the

:25:36. > :25:39.credentials for consideration by the standing committee on the 27th of

:25:40. > :25:42.November, and as we have already heard, they prefer to have `s a week

:25:43. > :25:46.and as we have already heard, they prefer to have as a week mentioned

:25:47. > :25:55.the date of the 20th of Novdmber. The more we wait, the more the

:25:56. > :25:58.problem is exasperated, it will mean the delegation members will be

:25:59. > :26:04.unable to participate in assembly business. Until the next recession

:26:05. > :26:08.in January. I think it is bdst if I try to inform the house on the

:26:09. > :26:14.governments position. The absence of the UK delegation will be fdlt in

:26:15. > :26:20.the committees as well as preventing participation and keep us a

:26:21. > :26:24.summation during the period. It is not represent delegation and the

:26:25. > :26:27.civil delegation, as a consdquence will be without a voice. My

:26:28. > :26:31.honourable friend has explahned some of the further meetings and more

:26:32. > :26:35.detailed. The bristles of the motion should recognise that UK publisher

:26:36. > :26:39.delegations is not a selecthvity of this house. Because of your past

:26:40. > :26:44.certain guidelines to provide that the delegation is a fair rendition

:26:45. > :26:47.of Parliament, in meeting those guidelines we have a fair rdndition

:26:48. > :26:49.of Parliament, in meeting those guidelines we have ensured that the

:26:50. > :26:54.delegation has had a appropriate local ballots, and members of both

:26:55. > :26:57.houses MPs of every nation of United Kingdom have also fulfilled the

:26:58. > :27:04.criteria on gender balance, I will give way. When there was a vacancy

:27:05. > :27:08.for the better of the labour delegation some years ago, `nd the

:27:09. > :27:13.leader of the majority delegation is the leader of the entire delegation

:27:14. > :27:22.as well. A vote was held between the Lord Prescott, and someone dlse

:27:23. > :27:33.could you tell us and explahn to the house how the member was chosen as

:27:34. > :27:36.the leader delegate. Not only of the conservative delegation but of the

:27:37. > :27:39.entire delegation. How does that process work, election or

:27:40. > :27:44.appointment? Given that thex have the majority of the United Kingdom

:27:45. > :27:51.in the House of Commons, I believe that this is a was made by the Prime

:27:52. > :27:56.Minister, I am not privy to all of the ins and outs to how laboured

:27:57. > :28:00.beside who they or appoint, to various committees or variots

:28:01. > :28:03.assembly delegation. I am not aware of the election to which he

:28:04. > :28:07.referred, but I am not award that that was an election of the whole

:28:08. > :28:13.house, which by his logic, ht probably should be, given that whole

:28:14. > :28:18.house elects chairs of the committee. I am aware that hn 2 10,

:28:19. > :28:24.the labour delegation was not contested to the election, H am not

:28:25. > :28:27.aware of this year. Returning, met under 30 Speaker, as a consdquence

:28:28. > :28:31.as what I have just outlined of the Council Europe having certahn

:28:32. > :28:34.guidelines and how I do miss at how we met them, as a consequence I

:28:35. > :28:37.believe that delegation is perfectly in order, it hasn't been thhs way

:28:38. > :28:40.for many years and we believe that this is still the right way to

:28:41. > :28:45.nominate this Parliamentary delegation as it is not a

:28:46. > :28:47.selectivity. I should remind honourable and right honour`ble

:28:48. > :28:53.member said we have polymers delegations to the OSCE, Nato and

:28:54. > :28:58.the British Ireland Parliamdnt to committee which is meeting today.

:28:59. > :29:02.The UK Parliament is at risk of losing influence in a important

:29:03. > :29:05.time. The government does not support this motion so I wotld

:29:06. > :29:09.encourage my right honourable friend to see that the house to withdraw

:29:10. > :29:12.the motion or not to give voice to the Boston at the end of thhs

:29:13. > :29:17.debate. I make this same encouragement to my honourable

:29:18. > :29:24.friend regarding his amendmdnt. I will be very brief. When thd

:29:25. > :29:26.government and a system that does not have a separation of powers

:29:27. > :29:35.chooses to use its dominancd against the legislator, one of the things it

:29:36. > :29:41.is very good at doing is making very important issues of principle and to

:29:42. > :29:47.trivial or procedural matters, this is painted as a introverted is a

:29:48. > :29:52.Turk issue about the council. I have no issue whatsoever in the Council

:29:53. > :29:58.of Europe and do not wish to be on the Council of Europe. God bless

:29:59. > :30:05.those who do. But, the issud at its heart could not be more significant.

:30:06. > :30:10.That is whether members of this house can elect their own ddlegates

:30:11. > :30:17.and do so by means of a secret ballot, rather than having the front

:30:18. > :30:24.benches beside who is to represent the House of Commons on these

:30:25. > :30:33.organisations. That is a fundamental issue, the use of a secret ballot in

:30:34. > :30:38.an old franchise. The point I was to make on the back of that, is a short

:30:39. > :30:44.and simple one, that is that there are many new members and thhs house

:30:45. > :30:48.and many of them on my side, and on all sides of the house who lay just

:30:49. > :30:53.think that we have gotten to this point every secret ballot, `nd it

:30:54. > :30:59.must have been this edition of the house surely for 50 years, ` hundred

:31:00. > :31:06.years, to years? No. It is six years old. The idea that members hn this

:31:07. > :31:10.house are capable of their own members to select committees, such

:31:11. > :31:15.as the deputy chair who served with great distinction, and the select

:31:16. > :31:21.committee that I'd shared in the last Parliament, that we can do

:31:22. > :31:24.that, the select committee chairs themselves can be elected and a

:31:25. > :31:32.secure ballot. Within the m`in parties, within all of the parties

:31:33. > :31:36.of this Parliament. Those things are things which have been a part of our

:31:37. > :31:41.environment only for about five years. My anxiety, matter that the

:31:42. > :31:48.speaker is that if we did not hold the line on this is that thdre could

:31:49. > :31:56.be slippage back to the days of when a particular important person who is

:31:57. > :32:04.independent-minded, chair of the Social Security and committde, was

:32:05. > :32:10.eased out. Rather publicly, pushed out by his side. On my side of the

:32:11. > :32:18.house, one of the most disthnguished select committee chairs, was again

:32:19. > :32:22.fighting and hanging on by their fingernails to the chair th`t she

:32:23. > :32:30.had made such an important part of this house, and became one of the

:32:31. > :32:36.key places that issues were fought out in this house. We could return

:32:37. > :32:41.to those days very quickly, unless colleagues and all parties hang onto

:32:42. > :32:49.this principle, that they c`n elect their own representative. I give way

:32:50. > :32:55.to the honourable Flamenco he was a part of the committee, which

:32:56. > :32:59.represented that all elected, does this not demonstrate to not only to

:33:00. > :33:03.the European committee to bd elected by this house, but in DV Hotse

:33:04. > :33:17.committees of the. To be eldcted as well? We have the new slipp`ge, I

:33:18. > :33:21.will not go into any new detail The reform committee has been abolished

:33:22. > :33:24.by government, by the front benches, who decided that they did

:33:25. > :33:29.not want to continue with some of that work. We haven't a thele and

:33:30. > :33:33.now for six years of the crdation of the house and business commhttee,

:33:34. > :33:39.which all parties said they would sign up to, and now we aren't seeing

:33:40. > :33:48.any rows in the of that principle that the secret ballot should rule

:33:49. > :33:53.for positions, outside of this house. It is, Madam Deputy chair,

:33:54. > :34:00.Medvedev to the speaker forgive me, an area that's my done deputies

:34:01. > :34:08.bigger. It should concern mdmbers of independent mind, they should hold

:34:09. > :34:18.the line on this a very significant issue. It is one of the fundamental

:34:19. > :34:23.issues that Parliament can discuss. Is a real pleasure to follow the

:34:24. > :34:27.honourable member who has expressed exactly why this is such an

:34:28. > :34:31.important debate today, his consistency for putting Parliament

:34:32. > :34:39.first. I came across the Cotncil of Europe early on Whee -- onlx on

:34:40. > :34:45.those met occasions. The deputy chief said to me that they would

:34:46. > :34:48.like me to go on the Council of Europe, of course I found ott why.

:34:49. > :34:52.It was not because I would be a star on the Council of Europe, I would be

:34:53. > :34:59.sent away from this house and not be aggravating to the wit, I m`y

:35:00. > :35:05.possess assembly members who had been removed, the principal is not

:35:06. > :35:09.the fact that we had three lembers who buy convention would have been

:35:10. > :35:16.reappointed, who have not bden removed. That is not the re`son that

:35:17. > :35:20.I actually am supporting. Not the motion, because my name was on the

:35:21. > :35:24.original motion but in fact the amendment my honourable fridnd has

:35:25. > :35:31.ordered, but I very was the point that honourable friend made, that in

:35:32. > :35:35.practical terms if the main motion was passed, it would be verx

:35:36. > :35:40.difficult to get our delegation there quick enough, and it would be

:35:41. > :35:44.a gap. I think that is the reason that we should all support the

:35:45. > :35:49.amendment. I really do not see why, every body into the house could not

:35:50. > :35:53.come around with a very sensible compromise. We can have deldgation

:35:54. > :35:58.appointed affectively tomorrow, because as the speaker has said he

:35:59. > :36:01.wanted to know the word of the house before submitting the man's. And

:36:02. > :36:06.yet, we would have elections next year. I think that solves that

:36:07. > :36:10.problem. It does with the go back to the veritable point, that is a

:36:11. > :36:14.parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe, it is thd

:36:15. > :36:19.Parliamentary assembly. It hs not the ministers who sit in thd

:36:20. > :36:23.Council, it is not that part of it, and the Parliamentary assembly. It

:36:24. > :36:28.represents this house, so this house must choose. It should not be

:36:29. > :36:33.appointed by the executive. This is clearly house business, this is

:36:34. > :36:38.clearly not a party politic`l, and I am sure that when the vote, the

:36:39. > :36:44.government will do what is done with so many backbench business. And ask

:36:45. > :36:53.the payroll to abstain, and not both, and let members who are not

:36:54. > :36:58.part of the executive express with you on what is clearly housd

:36:59. > :37:03.matters. I am grateful for ly honourable friend for his stpport.

:37:04. > :37:07.Given that he has very kindly indicated, he is withdrawing his

:37:08. > :37:10.support from the main motion, does he share my concerns that the

:37:11. > :37:17.Minister and her remarks only advance reasons not to support the

:37:18. > :37:21.main motion, I have yet to hear an argument from the front bench or

:37:22. > :37:27.elsewhere as to why the amendment would be a problem. I am very

:37:28. > :37:31.grateful for my honourable friend intervention. What I think ht

:37:32. > :37:38.explains to us, is that the Minister quite friendly explain why the

:37:39. > :37:42.original motion would not work. I do not think that she wanted to express

:37:43. > :37:47.an opinion on the mind meant, because she recognises that it is

:37:48. > :37:54.not something that the government should express an opinion. This as

:37:55. > :37:57.they can bully out of it. -, they should stay completely out of it.

:37:58. > :38:01.They should let them make their own mind up. I want to pay tribtte to

:38:02. > :38:07.the Council of Europe, becatse when I was chairman of the party group

:38:08. > :38:11.against human trafficking, ht was not the European Union that was

:38:12. > :38:19.promoting reform, it was thd Council of Europe. The original mothon, the

:38:20. > :38:26.original convention on the rights of people against human trafficking was

:38:27. > :38:30.a Council of Europe. Represdnting 47 countries and I remember ard great

:38:31. > :38:34.from the other benches to gdt the then Labour government to r`tify.

:38:35. > :38:41.This is not a minor matter Ladam Deputy, is extremely import`nt. This

:38:42. > :38:45.is entirely about parliamentary democracy, it is absolutely a mind

:38:46. > :38:52.with what the Prime Minister so eloquently said in his parlhamentary

:38:53. > :38:55.speech. It is a line with mx vitamins manifesto, it is the right

:38:56. > :39:04.thing to do to support this amendment. Thank you Madam Deputy

:39:05. > :39:11.Speaker, I am sorry in fact, I am a little embarrassed to interrupt this

:39:12. > :39:18.family argument or lovers tdst perhaps, because that is essentially

:39:19. > :39:23.what this is. I cannot conctr the debates on the inner workings of the

:39:24. > :39:29.conservative party are really the best way to use valuable tile in

:39:30. > :39:34.this chamber. I do welcome the conservative parties of backbench is

:39:35. > :39:39.new-found belief in democracy. I'd think that they should go ftrther

:39:40. > :39:45.and give the public more as they say over important issues. Becatse it

:39:46. > :39:50.shortly, the irony cannot bd lost on them, the Tory MPs are arguhng and

:39:51. > :39:55.this plays to give themselvds a vote on members and the Council of Europe

:39:56. > :39:59.while their peers and the other plays are voting today to do 16 and

:40:00. > :40:04.17-year-olds and vote on thd referendum of Britain's membership

:40:05. > :40:08.of the European Union. Thosd numbers opposite who are arguing for

:40:09. > :40:12.democracy are correct. That almost goes without saying, I am not as

:40:13. > :40:17.wide as the honourable membdr who is no longer in his place, we hn the

:40:18. > :40:20.Labour Party appoint our melbers is through elections and we have an

:40:21. > :40:27.excellent set of representatives to show for it. We are perfectly happy

:40:28. > :40:31.to see changes made, if further parties wishes to adopt our system.

:40:32. > :40:35.The Parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe isn't meant to be

:40:36. > :40:43.made up of Parliamentary Representative not the

:40:44. > :40:47.representatives. -- is. Thex must be elected or appointed by parliament.

:40:48. > :40:52.Neither has happened here, `nd said, it is clear to everyone that the

:40:53. > :40:56.Prime Minister is punishing members who disagree with him. This is no

:40:57. > :40:59.way to go about selecting representatives for our country The

:41:00. > :41:03.assembly is after all, meant to be the repetition of Europe's

:41:04. > :41:08.Parliament. Not a group of those and the good book of Europe's prime

:41:09. > :41:12.minister and Parliament. Situation is becoming embarrassing for the

:41:13. > :41:15.UK, the standing committee for the Parliamentary assembly for the

:41:16. > :41:21.Council of Europe is leading at the end of this month, and we still do

:41:22. > :41:25.not have a representative. That means that the UK can have no

:41:26. > :41:30.constitution when the US of Europe is debating refugees and migrants

:41:31. > :41:35.justice and human rights. T`ckling violence against women and other

:41:36. > :41:39.major issues facing the continent, the UK needs to have a seat at the

:41:40. > :41:43.table when the assembly is deciding on policies which will affect our

:41:44. > :41:47.country. Once again, the internal squabbles of the conservative party

:41:48. > :41:53.are weakening the Duke case voice with an Europe. -- UK's. Thd

:41:54. > :41:59.government has had months to sort this out. Instead they have created

:42:00. > :42:04.this must completely unnecessarily. The government needs to sort out as

:42:05. > :42:11.it with their own MPs and they need to do it before it damages our place

:42:12. > :42:15.at the table and Europe. Madam Deputy Speaker what a wonderful

:42:16. > :42:20.think it is to observe and calls close quarters of the development

:42:21. > :42:26.progress of democracy. Ideas to think that these things would happen

:42:27. > :42:34.care. , and the development of high principle. Through gentle mdans but

:42:35. > :42:38.in fact I wonder now if democracy is advanced to the irritation of those

:42:39. > :42:43.and a power when their rights are trespassed upon by those in higher

:42:44. > :42:45.office. Of course, this set of circumstance bears no relathon to

:42:46. > :42:53.the great events and hundred years ago when a tyrant imposes whll on

:42:54. > :42:58.the buzz of the Magna Carta is quite different. We wish to uphold the

:42:59. > :43:03.principle but that the Housd has already accepted that we eldct our

:43:04. > :43:08.own representatives. I accept the original motion which I sighed, it

:43:09. > :43:24.does involve with and it a little bit of that revolution from a

:43:25. > :43:28.hundred years ago. -- 800. Hf my spirit was not condemned, mx

:43:29. > :44:18.honourable friend on the front bed certainly quench it completdly, I

:44:19. > :44:27.To have had no denials from the front bench on this issue. We don't

:44:28. > :44:31.have to rely on Daily Telegraph reports and hearsay. We know why

:44:32. > :44:35.this is happened. Opinion into the grey shame that it has. We should

:44:36. > :44:40.perhaps remind ourselves th`t this is the Parliamentary assembly of the

:44:41. > :44:48.Council of Europe. Thereford, it is up to Parliament to elect bx

:44:49. > :44:50.whatever needs they deem fit and sensible of their own

:44:51. > :44:57.representatives when it comds to this counsel for Durer, and here we

:44:58. > :45:02.have the ludicrous situation where we had this tussle between the

:45:03. > :45:05.executive and legislative, where the hole has been dubbed by minhsters

:45:06. > :45:12.and there would be best advhsed now to stop digging and just accept

:45:13. > :45:20.amendment be. And allowed this situation to resolve itself in that

:45:21. > :45:23.manner. We must come back to the fundamental principle that pulmonary

:45:24. > :45:30.backbenchers, on issues of this sort, where the Council of Durope of

:45:31. > :45:34.47 nations, together, has expects their assemblies to be made up of

:45:35. > :45:41.backbenchers, able to express their views elected by the sales, we

:45:42. > :45:44.should remind ourselves that is what the Council of Europe is about. Is

:45:45. > :45:49.what the vast majority of of the Parliamentary assembles, go about

:45:50. > :45:53.their business. I think we need to catch up with that principld,

:45:54. > :45:57.particularly when ministers have decided to try and punish

:45:58. > :46:01.individuals for stressing their views against the government. It is

:46:02. > :46:04.a fundamental principle of the executive and legislative. Hs about

:46:05. > :46:09.the Council Bureau, but somdthing much bigger as well. Is abott

:46:10. > :46:12.getting that balance between the executive and legislative, `nd we

:46:13. > :46:17.have a opportunity to take ` small step for in that director and this

:46:18. > :46:25.evening. I house to have to support the amendment, tabled by my friend.

:46:26. > :46:29.I am very grateful for being called so late in the debate. I want to

:46:30. > :46:33.place on record for the bendfit of the House, as a member of the

:46:34. > :46:36.Backbench Business Committed, that this cable for us as a membdr of the

:46:37. > :46:39.Backbench Business Committed, that this came before us and across party

:46:40. > :46:44.application. It was not purdly presented by members of the

:46:45. > :46:46.government side of the Housd and. It with a cross party applicathon, I

:46:47. > :46:56.think that should be clearlx put on the record from the point of view of

:46:57. > :47:02.the Backbench Business Commhttee. We had an interesting debate. @s a

:47:03. > :47:10.member of six parties signed the original motion. I don't entirely

:47:11. > :47:16.accept his gloomy view that it's impossible to organise a smooth

:47:17. > :47:25.election on short notice. Ghven the complements of the chairman, I think

:47:26. > :47:28.you could. I think he does come with some sensible and practical point,

:47:29. > :47:34.given all the important werd going down the road at the Capitol Bureau.

:47:35. > :47:42.And that the UK is currentlx not represented. I think we havd clearly

:47:43. > :47:51.won the point that it is appropriate that a body, which is representative

:47:52. > :47:55.of 47 governments, should h`ve the government and ministers, btt the

:47:56. > :48:00.body which is there for the parliament to scrutinize and hold to

:48:01. > :48:06.account the 47 governments, should have those parliaments's eldct those

:48:07. > :48:16.people. Given that there sedms to be a sense that this amendment, said to

:48:17. > :48:19.have, I sent some support across the House. We are not clear what the

:48:20. > :48:27.government is going to think about this. I will wait to see, I think it

:48:28. > :48:32.is our best chance to make ` compromise where we can keep the

:48:33. > :48:38.delegation doing the import`nt work, but also give us propdr

:48:39. > :48:46.election system down the ro`d. The question is that the amendmdnt,

:48:47. > :48:50.amendment be corrupt, the qtestion is that the amendment be made. Of

:48:51. > :51:31.the contrary. Clear at the lobby! Order! The question is that the

:51:32. > :51:39.amendment be made as many whth that opinion say Aye's, on the contrary

:51:40. > :57:24.Saint No's. Told us of the No's George Cole and Barry.

:57:25. > :01:04.Order! Order! The the No's 071. The Aye's to the rights, 34, thd No s to

:01:05. > :01:14.the left, 171. The No's havd it The No's have it. The question hs the

:01:15. > :01:22.motion as on the order paper, as many as that opinion say Ayd's, on

:01:23. > :01:34.the contrary note. The No's have it. The No's have it. A point of

:01:35. > :01:40.order, sir. As someone who does not actually follow the petty dhsputes

:01:41. > :01:46.as the Conservative Party, can you explain to the rest of the halls...

:01:47. > :01:54.Order! I cannot hear the gentleman who is speaking. People shotld not

:01:55. > :01:57.be speaking behind the chair! I am grateful Madam Deputy Speakdr for a

:01:58. > :02:01.second chance of this. For those of us who do not follow the disputes

:02:02. > :02:06.that we have in the Conserv`tive Party, can you explain to us which

:02:07. > :02:10.way in all of the Conservathve Party after the Conservative Partx

:02:11. > :02:14.actually won that both? No, I cannot explain that. I think he knows as

:02:15. > :02:22.the House does that very fortunately it is not a point of order for the

:02:23. > :02:28.chair. Point of order, Mr Alan. Is it possible for the chair to inform

:02:29. > :02:31.that he would understand more of the way to vote, what the discussion was

:02:32. > :02:43.about, were it to turn the debates... Order! Order! Very

:02:44. > :02:47.fortunately, the matter of lembers being in the chamber or not in the

:02:48. > :02:51.chamber is also not a matter for the chair. But, as a point of

:02:52. > :02:54.information the honourable gentleman was here for a fair amount of the

:02:55. > :03:06.debate and I am sure he unddrstands it as well as anyone. We now come to

:03:07. > :03:16.the debates on the Pharma. . Mr David Burrows, Mr David Burrows to

:03:17. > :03:20.move the motion. Madam Deputy Speaker, I beg to move the lotion as

:03:21. > :03:26.on the order paper relating to this. Order! Members in this chamber are

:03:27. > :03:38.being exceedingly discourteous to the gentleman who is trying to move

:03:39. > :03:41.a motion. Mr Burrows. The m`ssacre in Paris is rightly dominathng

:03:42. > :03:46.public and parliamentary attention today. The question may be `sked,

:03:47. > :03:53.why is a motion about Cyprus being debated today? I could use the

:03:54. > :03:58.phrase commonly used by manx of my constituents. Why not? In f`ct, they

:03:59. > :04:05.have been asking the question of why not for over 40 years following the

:04:06. > :04:09.occupation of Cyprus in 1974. Why not Justice for Cyprus? Othdr

:04:10. > :04:15.divided and occupy countries have seen freedoms over those 40 or so

:04:16. > :04:22.years, but Cyprus remains one of the longest-running unresolved hssues in

:04:23. > :04:29.British foreign-policy. This issue matters to my constituents because I

:04:30. > :04:34.represent the most Cypriots, both Greek and together in the world

:04:35. > :04:39.While I am proud of representing so many constituents it is a s`d

:04:40. > :04:47.statistic because it is the only place in the world that has so many

:04:48. > :04:50.both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in such numbers living

:04:51. > :04:56.freely side-by-side, working, socialising, and trading together.

:04:57. > :05:02.In my constituents we have wreaked Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots being

:05:03. > :05:07.together, but in Cyprus the Greek and Turkish Cypriots divided by the

:05:08. > :05:12.green lines. Cyprus also relains one of the most militarized places per

:05:13. > :05:17.head of population anywhere in the world. When we think of conflicts

:05:18. > :05:24.around the world, that is an extraordinary statistic. Whdn one

:05:25. > :05:28.notes the tens of thousands of Turkish troops in the north of

:05:29. > :05:34.Cyprus we have to ask ourselves why is this continuing? Day aftdr day

:05:35. > :05:40.year. And we say this when we know that Cyprus is a member of the

:05:41. > :05:44.European Union. Which is tragically, and intolerably, divided

:05:45. > :05:49.and occupied. And the context of this motion before the Housd today.

:05:50. > :05:54.Why before this particular house of Parliament when as we know Britain

:05:55. > :06:02.has a historical interest in Cyprus, it has a legal interest and has a

:06:03. > :06:07.more obvious indeed in recent months and days, obvious strategic interest

:06:08. > :06:11.given that Cyprus location hn that troubled region and indeed ht's home

:06:12. > :06:17.to those sovereign base are`s where we are secret particular reference

:06:18. > :06:20.to the wider world to much `nd we know the tornadoes by their conduct

:06:21. > :06:27.and operate, operations and may be further to come. I please ghve way.

:06:28. > :06:35.I would like to congratulatd him on bringing forward this debatd... Here

:06:36. > :06:39.here, he will know that previous governments if not the currdnt one

:06:40. > :06:43.are very keen to get their hands on those sovereign base areas. To what

:06:44. > :06:51.extent does he think that attention is taken from those areas bx the

:06:52. > :06:54.convicts currently between the Turkish and Cypriots side. Once that

:06:55. > :07:02.is a result which I hope it is soon, the steeper the tension may

:07:03. > :07:05.refocus on Alkatiri and? I can talk with some interest, it is something

:07:06. > :07:09.I should declare an interest with the friends of Cyprus and rdally...

:07:10. > :07:16.Recently visiting we have jtst returned over the weekend, we have a

:07:17. > :07:21.conservative president who has taken a very sensible view in rel`tion to

:07:22. > :07:23.the sovereign base areas. Rdcently one important agreement that was

:07:24. > :07:27.reached with the British Government was in terms of an appropri`te

:07:28. > :07:32.property development to support Cyprus and its road to economic

:07:33. > :07:36.recovery. Each is a very pr`gmatic use of those areas, and also a keen

:07:37. > :07:40.understanding of the ongoing to keep the interest of those base `reas and

:07:41. > :07:45.for wider security in the rdgion. I think Cyprus is in good hands,

:07:46. > :07:48.together that is compared to settlement that we all seek to have

:07:49. > :07:53.resolved together with that ongoing strategic that we have. Togdther

:07:54. > :07:59.Cyprus can be a beacon to other nations. Working together, providing

:08:00. > :08:08.the ability that region does Sony. This house has been used to, I have

:08:09. > :08:12.been debates on Cyprus, and many across the House as well. What makes

:08:13. > :08:16.this particular debate diffdrent is that we have a substantive lotion, I

:08:17. > :08:20.want to thank the backbench committee for agreeing to. The

:08:21. > :08:26.reason for this motion is m`ny ways the basis of it is public stpport.

:08:27. > :08:30.Picked up a petition signed by 50,000 Greek and Turkish Cypriots

:08:31. > :08:34.which presented to the Primd Minister in 2012. It follows up her

:08:35. > :08:39.it follows up her the declaration of the European Parliament of 04th of

:08:40. > :08:44.February 2012, calling for the return, such a motion can bd good

:08:45. > :08:49.for the European Parliament. It can certainly be good for British

:08:50. > :08:52.Parliament. We often say th`t our debates are timely in this place,

:08:53. > :08:55.well they certainly are when it comes to this particular motion

:08:56. > :09:00.before the House. Not just because along with six under honour`ble

:09:01. > :09:06.friends who are here today. Just returned from a recent visit but

:09:07. > :09:10.also because the two readers of Cyprus are undertaking an intense

:09:11. > :09:16.period of negotiations this month to reach a settlement to the Cxprus

:09:17. > :09:19.problem. For meetings with both Greek and Turkish Cypriots revealed

:09:20. > :09:24.an encouraging, positive approach to the talks. Both ambassador the Greek

:09:25. > :09:33.Cypriots describe it as the best chance ever. If we do not stcceed

:09:34. > :09:39.now, we may never succeed. This echoes the remarks from the Foreign

:09:40. > :09:43.Secretary a couple of months ago who also has great timing, he whll be

:09:44. > :09:48.visiting Cyprus on Thursday. He said that the stars are optimisthcally

:09:49. > :09:51.aligned to create the chancd for supplement the likes of which we

:09:52. > :09:55.have not seen in decades. I look forward to the Minister, on behalf

:09:56. > :10:00.of the House and indeed the government. I firmly support for the

:10:01. > :10:06.conference of settlement and we need this as soon as possible. Why the

:10:07. > :10:11.particular attention on Fam`gusta in this motion? The reason is `ll too

:10:12. > :10:15.clear. It is all too clear hn deed as it was too honourable frhends who

:10:16. > :10:24.were there just on Saturday. For themselves as I saw very visibly on

:10:25. > :10:31.the beach there at Famagust`, a fenced off area... I do givd way. I

:10:32. > :10:37.have to declare an interest as well, I accompanied my honourable friend

:10:38. > :10:42.recently on the trip to Cyprus. Famagusta has some of the most

:10:43. > :10:48.beautiful beaches in the world, and would play a strong part in the

:10:49. > :10:53.economy. I know this becausd my constituents also have some

:10:54. > :10:57.beautiful beaches, but would he join me in encouraging both sides to come

:10:58. > :11:03.to an agreement so that we do not see these beaches divided bx what is

:11:04. > :11:10.a dreadful barrier with part of that town being a ghost town? He`r, hear!

:11:11. > :11:13.My honourable friend seeks of the issue of Therese M and beautiful

:11:14. > :11:19.coastlines that benefit frol tourism and how important is that F`magusta

:11:20. > :11:25.which 50 feet were sent of tourism of Cyprus was generated in Famagusta

:11:26. > :11:29.and now it is referred to often as a ghost town. A ghost town whhch is in

:11:30. > :11:36.sharp contrast as it was thd jewel of the Mediterranean. Everyday that

:11:37. > :11:41.Famagusta is as it is, is a day of injustice. That is where yot must

:11:42. > :11:43.not let it be tolerated. Whhle we appropriately recognise support for

:11:44. > :11:49.comprehensive settlement, F`magusta in its return is a key elemdnt in

:11:50. > :11:56.facilitating that settlement. I give way. I thank my friend for securing

:11:57. > :11:58.this debate, I know are hard he fights for Cypriots constittents

:11:59. > :12:04.whether Turkish or Greek heritage. Does he agree with me that Famagusta

:12:05. > :12:09.is a visible reminder that Cyprus is the only EU country occupied, and

:12:10. > :12:15.occupied by foreign power which if Turkey? We cannot allow Turkey to

:12:16. > :12:20.exceed to VE you until they withdraw from the Cyprus. I have been a

:12:21. > :12:26.champion of these causes ovdr a number of years, indeed the

:12:27. > :12:30.Famagusta who are acutely aware of that very fact and the along with

:12:31. > :12:35.40,000 fled their town. There would also recognise if they lost their

:12:36. > :12:40.town, they have lost their freedom, there just is, that we all do this

:12:41. > :12:44.is a scar on Europe. It is ` star that must be sorted out and sooner

:12:45. > :12:52.rather than later. It is th`t visible reality of divided occupied

:12:53. > :12:55.island. It also offers the hope and opportunity for providing a

:12:56. > :12:59.credibility for a settlement. That is important. It is something that

:13:00. > :13:04.is recognised by all communhties will form the basis for the motion

:13:05. > :13:10.by signing that petition. Bdcause, they together recognise the

:13:11. > :13:17.importance of this important act of justice. They themselves have called

:13:18. > :13:21.for the two UN security council resolutions, 550, 780, to bd

:13:22. > :13:27.properly fulfilled. Sadly, Turkey has ignored. I have invited the

:13:28. > :13:31.Minister to know what steps have been taken to ensure that wd get

:13:32. > :13:36.that Corporation. We must sde that Corporation to ensure that this

:13:37. > :13:41.settlement is truly credibld and has a reality. Britain has a kex role to

:13:42. > :13:44.play in securing that Corporation and providing that assurancd, that

:13:45. > :13:51.safety, that security that dveryone wants. The return of Famagusta has

:13:52. > :13:56.been described during our vhsit is a game changer. Before I go on to

:13:57. > :14:00.describe why, I give way. Could I thank the Honorable gentlem`n for

:14:01. > :14:05.giving way, I congratulate him for securing this debate. Also, does he

:14:06. > :14:09.agree with me that there is a lot of cross party support on thesd benches

:14:10. > :14:12.for a deal and that we may hndeed be seeing the very moment wherd they

:14:13. > :14:15.could see both sides coming together, extending the arm of

:14:16. > :14:18.friendship and having a lot of support in the region for that

:14:19. > :14:24.particular is that the men's? Does he agree it is a good thing to say

:14:25. > :14:27.that the Cabinet secretary hs being visited Cyprus recently, twhce in

:14:28. > :14:32.the last 12 months and think that is a positive step as well? Th`nk you,

:14:33. > :14:38.these are all very positive steps. He also wanted to provide a reality

:14:39. > :14:44.to the agreement that betwedn beers in the past that has been mdt with

:14:45. > :14:49.approval, both sides, we want to ensure that is a reality to that.

:14:50. > :14:57.One key way is Famagusta. I can go away from Famagusta because that is

:14:58. > :15:01.the subject of this motion. Under Greek and Turkish Cypriots tnder

:15:02. > :15:05.their implementation, run jointly by them under supervision of the UN,

:15:06. > :15:12.that which magically help financially support a reunited

:15:13. > :15:20.Cyprus. I give way. I think the honourable gentleman for giving way,

:15:21. > :15:26.as the co-chair of the northern Turkish Republic of Cyprus, I had

:15:27. > :15:36.just come back from a visit, and I while we were in North Cyprts we met

:15:37. > :15:39.with the president, and othdr the Prime Minister and everyone, they

:15:40. > :15:41.seem to be very optimistic that a deal and a settlement would be done

:15:42. > :15:47.very shortly, we also met the British ambassador in Cyprus as

:15:48. > :15:52.well, with these matters we have discussed. I think as I unddrstand

:15:53. > :15:58.it, the issue is very much part of the discussion that had takdn

:15:59. > :16:02.place. I sense from my disctssion there that they were hoping that

:16:03. > :16:07.very much not later, but soon that there would be some sort of

:16:08. > :16:12.settlement taking place. Thd lady has plenty of opportunity to make a

:16:13. > :16:15.speech later. Her benches are not overpopulated, it is bad form to

:16:16. > :16:20.make a very long intervention. Mr Burroughs. Thankful for that

:16:21. > :16:25.intervention, he makes a pohnt that there is of course the Turkhsh and

:16:26. > :16:29.Greek Cypriots as we hurt otrselves and our visit, there is poshtivity

:16:30. > :16:36.up EA have been on many vishts before, but this is a time where

:16:37. > :16:40.together they are making good progress. I'll want to wish them the

:16:41. > :16:46.very best in those endeavors. I think it is important that we see a

:16:47. > :16:49.lot of Turkey in this whole situation, and need for proper

:16:50. > :16:53.Corporation. That is why thd opening up of the ports in addition to

:16:54. > :16:59.Turkey is good. What it would mean is that if they properly relove the

:17:00. > :17:04.troops from the island and `lso properly recognise what is hmportant

:17:05. > :17:09.which is the protocol and the customs union which would, out of

:17:10. > :17:14.the ports of Famagusta, that would allow proper recognition of goods,

:17:15. > :17:21.trade, that would move obst`cles for Turkey's path to the Europe`n Union.

:17:22. > :17:27.These are important aspects for a proper contents of settlement. I

:17:28. > :17:32.look forward before I do, I defer to the intervention of my honotrable

:17:33. > :17:39.friend. One we went, we saw churches desecrated, and Graves robbdd. Does

:17:40. > :17:47.he not think that a settlemdnt would help the people of Cyprus to rebuild

:17:48. > :17:53.their religious tolerance, `nd understanding over all the

:17:54. > :17:58.communities on the island? There is much sadness around what is a

:17:59. > :18:01.beautiful island, that is why there are humanitarian issues, such as the

:18:02. > :18:07.issue of cultural destruction, such as may discussed in the deb`te in

:18:08. > :18:12.finding truth for those lovdd ones who still do not know inforlation

:18:13. > :18:16.about their missing relativds. These are humanitarian issues as well as

:18:17. > :18:21.Famagusta is a humanitarian issue that demands our attention `nd

:18:22. > :18:23.demand justice. I look forw`rd to the Minister in response indicating

:18:24. > :18:28.the government support for this motion. What he would have had as he

:18:29. > :18:31.indicates he does not need to be tubal because he would have the

:18:32. > :18:36.backing of the Prime Ministdr in giving that support. On the 29th of

:18:37. > :18:40.June, 2012 will to me about the petition which reference wh`t is in

:18:41. > :18:44.effect emotion before the House He said," we fully agree with the

:18:45. > :18:47.principle behind it that me`sures to build confidence within the

:18:48. > :18:51.communities of Cyprus can h`ve great value, facilitating efforts toward a

:18:52. > :18:56.competent of settlement. We fully support security resolutions

:18:57. > :19:01.including the security resolution 550, and 79, there is the Prime

:19:02. > :19:05.Minister's backing already. The ministers need to say he agrees with

:19:06. > :19:09.the Prime Minister and will support this motion. Time is short, Madam

:19:10. > :19:14.Deputy Beeker, the other melbers who wish to continue this debatd. A

:19:15. > :19:22.number of issues that though perhaps beyond this motion with the leave of

:19:23. > :19:25.the deputy speaker. But, as I left Cyprus along with many of mx

:19:26. > :19:32.honourable friend over the weekend, we may well help is a lot of other

:19:33. > :19:36.people do, they leave with souvenirs, they may try to leave

:19:37. > :19:41.with tortoises. I have a shopping list of questions for the Prime

:19:42. > :19:46.Minister which I wish to rahse here. On Famagusta will be governlent

:19:47. > :19:51.support access to experts to assess the damage and requirements for

:19:52. > :19:55.restoration and regeneration? If we are serious about the return of

:19:56. > :19:59.Famagusta, we should be serhous about getting experts in thdir now.

:20:00. > :20:02.On the settlement in relation to our powers, will bring indicate that

:20:03. > :20:07.external countries guaranteds have no future following comprehdnsive

:20:08. > :20:12.settlements? Does the government stand ready to help, followhng

:20:13. > :20:19.negotiations where they may be intractable issues which repuire

:20:20. > :20:23.Turkish corporations? Where there has indeed added the Speaker been

:20:24. > :20:29.good progress, Camino progrdss with the committee for missing pdrsons is

:20:30. > :20:35.an in providing conflict whhch across the world in working with

:20:36. > :20:37.committees and directing it but also a lab technicians from both

:20:38. > :20:43.communities. Carrying out painstaking work to find information

:20:44. > :20:46.and DNA to link with missing persons. There is going to be good

:20:47. > :20:52.news that the Turkish army have provided access for 30 military

:20:53. > :20:57.bases over the next three ydars to provide important information. Will

:20:58. > :20:59.the government go and continue to ask the Turkish government to

:21:00. > :21:03.provide information which is still kept in those archives to about

:21:04. > :21:08.those missing relatives who come every July to rally hair in

:21:09. > :21:14.Parliament. Can you provide them with information to Turkey `bout

:21:15. > :21:16.their loved ones, will we h`ve information in those archivds? By

:21:17. > :21:20.the Deputy Speaker, I don't expect to speak too much longer. In

:21:21. > :21:25.conclusion, this is a motion which is a historic motion, what ht does

:21:26. > :21:29.is it that clearly not just a general debate, it said verx

:21:30. > :21:34.clearly, crystal clear that we stand" are behind it can't handle

:21:35. > :21:38.settlement that is good for Cyprus, that is good for the region, and is

:21:39. > :21:43.good for Britain. The way wd can do that and provide reality is to

:21:44. > :21:50.provide justice to Famagust` and return Famagusta to its lawful

:21:51. > :21:53.inhabitants. Hear, hear! I want to start by congratulating my

:21:54. > :22:00.honourable friend for securhng this debate. This is an extremelx timely

:22:01. > :22:03.debate, six colleagues and lyself travelled to the divided island of

:22:04. > :22:07.Cyprus just last week. It w`s not my first visit to the country, indeed

:22:08. > :22:11.it was not the first time that I had actually crossed the border and gone

:22:12. > :22:16.into the occupied territory. It was my first time I had the opportunity

:22:17. > :22:20.to travel to Famagusta. I could speak about many issues that were

:22:21. > :22:24.raised during that trip, thd committee of missing persons which

:22:25. > :22:28.people found very moving, and indeed stolen artifacts or access to

:22:29. > :22:31.property or indeed I'm. I'm going to focus on two areas. I want to make

:22:32. > :22:35.two points during this debate this evening. Percy, I want to mdntion

:22:36. > :22:40.the observation I had of thd situation which I've found truly

:22:41. > :22:43.inexplicable on the island. Secondly, I want to talk about the

:22:44. > :22:47.effect of the huge military presence in the occupied zone. The fhrst

:22:48. > :22:52.issue I want to raise is thd ages particularly at Famagusta. To

:22:53. > :22:57.witness what I can only describe as a ghost town frozen in time, that is

:22:58. > :23:01.Famagusta, would be interesting if they did not affect so many people

:23:02. > :23:05.in the here and now today. Hn fact, there are many people who are not

:23:06. > :23:07.able to visit graves of thehr relatives and friends. In f`ct,

:23:08. > :23:10.there are many people who are not able to visit graves of thehr

:23:11. > :23:21.relatives and friends stop `gain at not able to on the subject of

:23:22. > :23:27.visiting graves, there are 371 many conscripts of this country buried in

:23:28. > :23:34.wings keep that we must makd sure we have access to, and that after that

:23:35. > :23:43.graveyard. These men were khlled many by Greek Cypriot terrorist

:23:44. > :23:48.fighters, we must not forget that. Indeed, he is correct, in f`ct is

:23:49. > :23:52.the record shows I have askdd from entry questions upon this issue

:23:53. > :23:56.because we indeed have our own graves in the country. What I am not

:23:57. > :23:58.going to open a debate upon the historical aspects of the island, we

:23:59. > :24:03.realise there are many sites do all the stories that we tell. Btt, we

:24:04. > :24:09.are very concerned about thd graves of all people on the island, be it

:24:10. > :24:12.Turkish Cypriots were indeed Greek Cypriots, or indeed British service

:24:13. > :24:17.personnel who died and were buried on the island. But, as I was saying,

:24:18. > :24:20.there are such people that H can certainly name this debate. These

:24:21. > :24:24.are not people I have pluckdd out of the air, but people such as Maria

:24:25. > :24:31.who was a regular visitor to the beach. Or Antonius who was denied

:24:32. > :24:37.access to his grandfather's property, these are all real people

:24:38. > :24:40.with stories to tell Madam Deputy Speaker. Because of the beh`viour of

:24:41. > :24:43.the authorities that we havd experienced I am not going to reveal

:24:44. > :24:46.their surnames because I fedl that would be further repercussions

:24:47. > :24:51.against these people. What H found striking about visiting Fam`gusta

:24:52. > :24:54.was not just the hundreds of residential, commercial properties

:24:55. > :25:00.that lie empty but the simple access to the beach. This is something that

:25:01. > :25:04.the members that they can all relate to, having coastal constitudncies.

:25:05. > :25:08.Walk along the stand in Fam`gusta means that you have to enter a

:25:09. > :25:13.untested area alongside the overbearing corrugated barb wire

:25:14. > :25:18.fences which includes the blocks that surround the beach, giving it a

:25:19. > :25:22.sense of a militarized zone. This bike extends across and alongside

:25:23. > :25:26.the beach until it makes a curvature of the water edge then enters the

:25:27. > :25:33.sea, preventing anyone from living on the coast. This and sure that

:25:34. > :25:38.there is no access. For somdone who grew up on the beach, liter`lly I

:25:39. > :25:42.find that really difficult to explain. Even if someone cotld

:25:43. > :25:45.navigate this military presdnce the watchtower, someone would come out

:25:46. > :25:50.and shout at you to get awax from the fans and certainly not to take

:25:51. > :25:54.any pictures. Now, I wonder if the Turkish authorities are emb`rrassed

:25:55. > :25:57.by that site? I leave it to you Madam Deputy Speaker, and other

:25:58. > :26:03.members of the chamber to ddcide if that is self. I certainly think that

:26:04. > :26:06.it is. Then, the Turkish authorities, I believe in an attempt

:26:07. > :26:10.to intimidate us even furthdr, had a presence on the beach of another

:26:11. > :26:14.security personnel, quite a peculiar person in his own shorts and his

:26:15. > :26:21.comb-over long grey hair, who marched around the beach at a great

:26:22. > :26:26.pace, walking closely to us, to intimidate and decide to sed what we

:26:27. > :26:28.were doing. All the time, h`ving an earpiece in his ear where wd could

:26:29. > :26:32.hear the Turkish border guard shouting at him at the top of their

:26:33. > :26:37.voices. It was one of the most peculiar scenes I have everx seen in

:26:38. > :26:41.my life. It is not just the physical environment in Famagusta th`t has

:26:42. > :26:45.been physically manipulated by the Turkish for this, but also the

:26:46. > :26:47.people who have been relocated from mainland Turkey, the settlor is not

:26:48. > :26:49.just the physical environment in Famagusta that has been physically

:26:50. > :26:51.manipulated by the Turkish for this, but also the people who havd been

:26:52. > :26:54.relocated from mainland Turkey, the settlers known in Cyprus, the first

:26:55. > :26:57.official sentenced performed in 1996 showed that there were over 200

:26:58. > :27:02.people in the occupied terrhtory. A decade later this has incre`sed by

:27:03. > :27:07.another ?65,000. A third census was carried out by the UN in 2001, they

:27:08. > :27:14.showed a population of over 294,000, these results have been

:27:15. > :27:20.disputed by many political parties, trade unions, and indeed local

:27:21. > :27:22.newspapers and associations of undercounting the population because

:27:23. > :27:27.the population because BT and RC have previously said to Turkey that

:27:28. > :27:31.there are over 730 people in the occupied territory in order to gain

:27:32. > :27:35.access to greater number of funds. What we do know as a fact that over

:27:36. > :27:40.50% of these people that cole from the mainland have no common heritage

:27:41. > :27:44.or culture would the indigenous Turkish, or simply use people. I

:27:45. > :27:47.often hear in this chamber, I am sorry the Minister has heard me said

:27:48. > :27:52.to him many times that we hdar about the settlement in Israel and how

:27:53. > :27:55.they are illegal under international law. Answer the Deputy Speaker would

:27:56. > :27:58.be glad to hear I am sorry the Minister has heard me said to him

:27:59. > :28:00.many times that we hear abott the settlement in Israel and how they

:28:01. > :28:02.are illegal under international law. Answer the Deputy Speaker would be

:28:03. > :28:05.glad to hear, or its actions are clear breach for the fourth Geneva

:28:06. > :28:11.Convention. Article 49 makes it clear that an occupying powdr may

:28:12. > :28:14.not force beat the board protected persons or deport them transfer

:28:15. > :28:19.parts of its own civilian population into occupied territory. Turkey has

:28:20. > :28:23.done this, Turkey has clearly reached its convention and there can

:28:24. > :28:28.be no dispute that immigrathon to the occupied territory is unlawful.

:28:29. > :28:33.What is not disputed is the number of Turkish troops in the North. In

:28:34. > :28:38.2013, and the Cyprus Center for city chick studies estimate that there

:28:39. > :28:43.were 74,000 troops in the occupied territory of Cyprus. In an `rea of

:28:44. > :28:46.1295 square miles. That there were 74,000 troops in the occupidd

:28:47. > :28:52.territory of Cyprus. In an `rea of 1295 square miles. Madam Arly

:28:53. > :28:58.service personnel, we have ` landmass of ADP thousand 700 square

:28:59. > :29:02.miles, the comparison is obvious. It illustrates to keep us by the

:29:03. > :29:07.termination in Cyprus in mahntaining its military presence. Indedd, on

:29:08. > :29:12.that today we witness the over the top display of soldiers, trtcks as

:29:13. > :29:17.traffic was stopped to allow Army personnel to travel to Famagusta. It

:29:18. > :29:25.was clear this was purely a public display of such weaponry. Dte to the

:29:26. > :29:28.side and to more than to intimidate the Turkish and separate population,

:29:29. > :29:33.not to seek the removal of the Turkish army in the occupied

:29:34. > :29:37.territory. Madam Deputy Spe`ker in conclusion, the European Parliament

:29:38. > :29:43.has repeatedly voiced its stpport for the return of Famagusta to its

:29:44. > :29:46.lawful inhabitants. The resdttlement of Famagusta on the basis of the UN

:29:47. > :29:50.Security Council resolutions will have a positive effect or a

:29:51. > :29:56.comprehensive viable solution to the Cyprus problem as it will create a

:29:57. > :30:01.tangible example of cooperation and coexistence between Greek and

:30:02. > :30:05.Turkish Cypriots on the isl`nd, and serve as a symbol of future harmony

:30:06. > :30:10.and prosperity is. Famagust` may be a forbidden occupied town in Cyprus,

:30:11. > :30:11.but it will never be a forgotten community by its lawful inh`bitants

:30:12. > :30:21.and befriend it has I congratulate my honourabld friend

:30:22. > :30:25.on securing this debate. I congratulate my honourable friend on

:30:26. > :30:30.his brilliantly though not brilliant leadership of the delegation I was a

:30:31. > :30:35.member of. I should tell thd House that I have found none of mx college

:30:36. > :30:43.two colleagues... I should `lso say my honourable friend exhibited true

:30:44. > :30:49.leadership. I would say to him that if ever it honourable friend were

:30:50. > :30:56.fit for office, he is. I am also delighted to see my honourable

:30:57. > :31:01.friend the Minister is going to be responding to this debate, H know

:31:02. > :31:06.him well. He is not a minister who will respond with a lot of waffle. I

:31:07. > :31:12.anticipate he is going to agree with everything that has been sahd during

:31:13. > :31:17.this debate, and given the fact that the former secretary will bd

:31:18. > :31:22.visiting Cyprus in a short while. The timing could not be better.

:31:23. > :31:26.Madam Deputy Speaker, when H first became a member of Parliament I was

:31:27. > :31:31.taken to the island of Cyprts, I have no constituency interest at

:31:32. > :31:39.all. Very few Cypriots, whether they be Greek or Turkish, live in my

:31:40. > :31:43.constituency. I cannot belidve, visiting the island, this thny

:31:44. > :31:49.island that it was divided by a landline. As far as Famagusta is

:31:50. > :31:58.concerned, which at this debate is focusing on, I can best likdn it to

:31:59. > :32:05.great expectations. It is vdry much like... It is very distresshng when

:32:06. > :32:16.you visit this area to see these buildings which have stood hn tea

:32:17. > :32:22.and decaying since 1970 for a. Madam Deputy Speaker when we started on

:32:23. > :32:26.the visit I was very cynical about the prospects of the settlelent I

:32:27. > :32:33.had heard it all before. As we all know there is nothing in between if

:32:34. > :32:37.they live on the north or south side, it is limited for the country

:32:38. > :32:44.start to intervene in that ht becomes challenging. I have to say

:32:45. > :32:48.to the House that I was so hmpressed with the meetings we had,

:32:49. > :32:55.particularly with what the `cting president had to say and wh`t the

:32:56. > :33:01.negotiator had to say that H really think it will be the last thme any

:33:02. > :33:05.British Parliament would visit the island when it's divided. I am very

:33:06. > :33:12.optimistic that in two or three months' time we will have long seen

:33:13. > :33:15.a united Ireland. I congrattlate my honourable friend again for his

:33:16. > :33:24.timing of our trip. -- I went. We can go back to 1970 and say it was

:33:25. > :33:33.eight disaster that never should have happened. -- not to. -, 19 4.

:33:34. > :33:37.It is a tragedy that it happened than in all these years latdr it has

:33:38. > :33:42.not been solved. I decided ht is no good going on about the past, we

:33:43. > :33:46.should draw a line underneath it as Cypriots on both sides have decided

:33:47. > :33:51.to do. I was very pleased on the 18th of September this year our

:33:52. > :34:01.Prime Minister met with the Greek Cypriot president. I believdd that

:34:02. > :34:08.there is a need for Turkey to send specific signal the specific actions

:34:09. > :34:14.that would enhance the ongohng settlement process. The recdnt

:34:15. > :34:20.election of the new leader on the northern side is widely seen as

:34:21. > :34:25.something that has signific`ntly increased the prospects of the

:34:26. > :34:30.solution. Does my honourabld friend agree with me that this also

:34:31. > :34:38.presents the opportunity for the missing persons, perhaps to be

:34:39. > :34:46.relocated and identified? And see for ourselves the bones that were

:34:47. > :34:54.strewn across and being sorted in the laboratory of Greek and Cypriot

:34:55. > :34:59.persons. This to be something that is a priority for both sides to come

:35:00. > :35:05.together so that those who did lose loved ones can lay them to rest I

:35:06. > :35:10.am going to agree with my honourable friend. I am going to come to that

:35:11. > :35:14.point in a moment because I had not seen the details of the DNA testing

:35:15. > :35:18.that was going on with the bones. I want to come back to the eldction of

:35:19. > :35:24.the new leader. His first act on assuming office was to... For

:35:25. > :35:31.visitors to northern Cyprus, something that long needed to

:35:32. > :35:34.happened. That is a positivd move. Of coarse there are obstaclds to

:35:35. > :35:40.overcome, such as government, security, territory as my honourable

:35:41. > :35:45.friend have mentioned, refugees If relations continue to be positive

:35:46. > :35:49.and they seem to be positivd I am optimistic that with the support of

:35:50. > :35:57.the UK, our support we were told over again is crucial. Therd can be

:35:58. > :36:06.a fairly swift decision in 2-3 months. The potential impact on

:36:07. > :36:14.Greek Cypriots, you cannot overestimate it. It would bd very

:36:15. > :36:21.significant indeed. Famagusta will be a winner for Greek Cypriots. It

:36:22. > :36:26.is an important humanitarian move that will allow the return of 4 ,000

:36:27. > :36:32.people to their homes. , not to the point that my honourable frhend said

:36:33. > :36:38.about missing persons. I did not know if one of my honourabld friends

:36:39. > :36:43.want to intervene, but I thhnk it is about 1500 Greek Cypriots mhssing,

:36:44. > :36:50.about 500 Turkish Cypriots lissing. I think we were all shocked at the

:36:51. > :36:56.detail of the word that goes into tracing these missing peopld. When

:36:57. > :37:00.we were taking into the labs if we had had a loved one whose bones were

:37:01. > :37:06.somewhere in the world it would have been too overwhelming for as. We

:37:07. > :37:12.would step back because we did not know any of the people, but I had no

:37:13. > :37:21.idea that the detail that wdnt on. The House should know this hs a very

:37:22. > :37:25.expensive operation. Another department distressed on thhs issue,

:37:26. > :37:30.if there is anyone who could perhaps land some financial support it would

:37:31. > :37:41.mean a great deal to those concerned. He is looking up the work

:37:42. > :37:48.of the buy communal committde on missing persons.

:37:49. > :37:57.It is encouraging that they will be visiting that laboratory so he can

:37:58. > :38:01.see how we can provide how luch support as necessary to help support

:38:02. > :38:08.the information that these relatives need. He makes a wonderful point.

:38:09. > :38:13.He's absolutely right about the timing of the visit. I do hope that

:38:14. > :38:17.although it was explained to us we will never find all of the lissing

:38:18. > :38:21.persons, it would mean so mtch if we could continue with the work in the

:38:22. > :38:35.foreseeable future. Speaking as someone who's the

:38:36. > :38:40.chairman... And knows all the work that goes on interesting people it

:38:41. > :38:47.is not that difficult if yot get the DNA off of a bone and peopld who are

:38:48. > :38:51.close relatives have their DNA taken. There are two parts to it.

:38:52. > :38:56.That can be done quite quickly underneath the United Nations. My

:38:57. > :39:01.honourable friend makes an dxcellent point. I think it was explahned to

:39:02. > :39:08.us as a difficulty that somd of the burial grounds are now under

:39:09. > :39:16.multi-story buildings. They are under housing. It really is in such

:39:17. > :39:19.a straightforward thing. I `m grateful for him giving way. Can I

:39:20. > :39:24.remind him it is not just where they're located some of thel have

:39:25. > :39:26.been dispersed by wild anim`ls, some have been washed away. And those

:39:27. > :39:34.that have been bleached of the Sun lose their DNA. My honourable friend

:39:35. > :39:44.reminds me of that specific point. To the experts are doing a fantastic

:39:45. > :39:46.job, but there's a limit to how far they can go on this. To touch on the

:39:47. > :39:55.other issue that my honourable friend mentioned in terms of the

:39:56. > :40:05.graves. He I was shocked and horrified when we visited the graves

:40:06. > :40:08.to see the Greek Cypriot absolutely vandalized, cross is broken and

:40:09. > :40:14.everything dug up to see if there were any riches, like the Egyptians

:40:15. > :40:21.used to have. And yet the Ttrkish graves right opposite were capped in

:40:22. > :40:26.magnificent order. This is `ll done through European Union fundhng. And

:40:27. > :40:33.absolute scandal! Added instlt. The act think the House will be well

:40:34. > :40:38.directed to find out more information about this. This is an

:40:39. > :40:42.issue, I know my honourable friend try to get a group of volunteers to

:40:43. > :40:46.go over there and do somethhng about it, but this is a relativelx small

:40:47. > :40:52.matter with can be brought right very quickly. But the lady who took

:40:53. > :40:57.us to see where her loved ones were, she broke down in our arms. My

:40:58. > :41:03.honourable friend comforted her Yes, my honourable friend also will

:41:04. > :41:13.agree with me that it is not only the graveyards, but the churches

:41:14. > :41:18.that have been destroyed. It is all out of the oppression of people and

:41:19. > :41:24.something should be done to rectify this. Absolutely. To seal one of the

:41:25. > :41:29.churches turned into a stable, how insulting is that. If only we had

:41:30. > :41:34.had the Ark bishop or his ddputy visiting with us on that to give a

:41:35. > :41:39.trip that would have made it even better. In conclusion, I do think we

:41:40. > :41:44.could do something as far as the graves are concerned. I belheve that

:41:45. > :41:51.we need to endorse the forehgn, wild mission which is we work with Cyprus

:41:52. > :41:59.to implement policy on Europe as a single market. We support all

:42:00. > :42:02.parties in finding a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus. We work

:42:03. > :42:08.together to beat international crime and threats to purchase

:42:09. > :42:10.international security. I would like to commend the Cypriot preshdent for

:42:11. > :42:17.all of his efforts and unifhcation of Cyprus, if all goes well the

:42:18. > :42:23.island could be a wonderful model of how coexistence could be between

:42:24. > :42:28.Muslims and Christians. Cyprus now has a role opportunity to rdach an

:42:29. > :42:30.agreement and that would be a wonderful thing for Europe `nd the

:42:31. > :42:44.world. I have not been to Cyprus. Ht sounds

:42:45. > :42:47.as though I missed a fun trhp. It sounds like they had a positive

:42:48. > :42:54.experience in the last couple of weeks. I have to say to the

:42:55. > :43:01.honourable Lady that it was not done to see graves destroyed and to meet

:43:02. > :43:06.people and go to beaches whdre there's a great big barrier in the

:43:07. > :43:11.middle. -- find. It was not a fun trip for either myself or any of my

:43:12. > :43:17.colleagues. Can I think the honourable Lady for that

:43:18. > :43:19.clarification. I guess one could fill a little excluded if one was

:43:20. > :43:25.missing and not having visited with the group. The thing is that this

:43:26. > :43:30.question, there is no divishon between the particular, there should

:43:31. > :43:34.be an all party Parliamentary think, there is no division on the

:43:35. > :43:39.fact that we all want to sed the same thing. One cannot help but feel

:43:40. > :43:43.a little left out about somd of the debates this evening. Let md get

:43:44. > :43:53.back to the Cypriots in my community. The contribution of the

:43:54. > :43:58.Cypriot community have made to business, local government,

:43:59. > :44:04.business, IT facilities and services, to our diet where the

:44:05. > :44:09.Mediterranean diet and the `rrival of fresh fruit and veggies hnto our

:44:10. > :44:15.street began the whole revolution towards a healthy way of life.

:44:16. > :44:21.Moving away from just the Staples love fish and chips into wonderful

:44:22. > :44:25.vegetables, olive oil and so on I know that the right honourable

:44:26. > :44:32.gentleman who began this debate and had the idea and sought the support

:44:33. > :44:36.for it will agree that we are so enraged in North London bec`use of

:44:37. > :44:43.what the Cypriots have brought us in terms of that diet in the 1870s and

:44:44. > :44:48.onwards. On a more serious note the right honourable lady is quhte right

:44:49. > :44:52.to say how much suffering h`s been there. There has been suffering on

:44:53. > :44:57.both sides. And older Cypriot had said to me how much they wish to see

:44:58. > :45:03.before the end of their livds, some kind of hope. But it would really

:45:04. > :45:08.for them has been a durable experience. They want to sed that

:45:09. > :45:13.for the children and grandchildren. -- terrible. They want to sde

:45:14. > :45:16.themselves do it, not just pass away knowing that at some point ht will

:45:17. > :45:25.happen, but they want to sed before they actually pass on. We do have

:45:26. > :45:35.these places, like Famagust`. We got close to a settlement is like

:45:36. > :45:40.decades ago. Unfortunately,... Would you agree with me that surgdry

:45:41. > :45:46.during our visit last week one of the important features was the fact

:45:47. > :45:49.that the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots who do want to live

:45:50. > :45:54.together and are happy to lhve together. It is the issue of

:45:55. > :46:04.Turkey, the Turkish governmdnt that stops that? Certainly, both my

:46:05. > :46:11.Turkish speaking and Greek speaking friends, colleagues are alw`ys

:46:12. > :46:19.talking about Cyprus. We ard the friends of Cyprus, the placd of It

:46:20. > :46:23.is important to always remelber that togetherness and the fact that it is

:46:24. > :46:26.the formalities. We need to bring the formalities together, wd need to

:46:27. > :46:34.have the Cabinet secretaries and live up to the reality which I

:46:35. > :46:39.believe we can do. She's emphasizing this is a cross party motion

:46:40. > :46:48.supported across the House. He it is, cross party support and as

:46:49. > :46:54.friends of Cyprus. Cypriots will work together and agree and not

:46:55. > :47:01.spread off, on this particular issue of Famagusta we have had wrdaked

:47:02. > :47:08.citizens signing petitions saying this is a good measure. That is a

:47:09. > :47:12.particular point we need to keep emphasizing and encouraged support

:47:13. > :47:20.on. That is right. What we `re working for is showing a huge amount

:47:21. > :47:24.of support that is impossible for other governments to ignore. Becomes

:47:25. > :47:36.the most important place, Cxprus itself. We give the example to other

:47:37. > :47:42.regional governments. I just wanted to conclude with this, the fact that

:47:43. > :47:46.we must not allow the disagreements that there have been in the past, I

:47:47. > :47:50.mentioned this briefly, arotnd the land. We must put that one out

:47:51. > :47:57.there. We want to get close to settlement. I I hope we can assist

:47:58. > :48:04.with the friends that we do have. I can see other friends who h`ve come

:48:05. > :48:12.to speak as well. I know my right honourable friend Allen was also key

:48:13. > :48:16.in working with colleagues `cross for many years on the environment

:48:17. > :48:21.and other questions. I hope is a new member of Parliament, the commitment

:48:22. > :48:25.I can now join the table. I am pleased to see their is one other

:48:26. > :48:31.white honourable lady in our midst as well. Because my experience at

:48:32. > :48:36.some of my meetings to date has been quite lonely. I look forward to

:48:37. > :48:43.seeing her at future events to talk about the unification of Cyprus

:48:44. > :48:50.Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Let me first date to be on able lady I

:48:51. > :49:00.believe I am right in saying it has been passed my honourable friend...

:49:01. > :49:05.Either I or her friend will make sure she has the chance to see

:49:06. > :49:09.herself. Some colleagues have seen a burning wall, not everyone has seen

:49:10. > :49:16.the green line in Cyprus. Dhe did the right to the centre of one of

:49:17. > :49:22.Europe's major cities there is a barricade. There are several yards

:49:23. > :49:34.of the parent land, buildings going back to -- 1974. It is quitd

:49:35. > :49:37.extraordinary. I think unless colleagues have seen it for

:49:38. > :49:47.themselves they cannot understand how desperate this is. Madal Deputy

:49:48. > :49:53.Speaker it is quite wrong that since 1974, since the Turkish inv`sion of

:49:54. > :50:00.the northern part of Cyprus a member state now of the European Union

:50:01. > :50:06.Cyprus, has been occupied bx an aspirant of another State of the

:50:07. > :50:14.European Union, Turkey. Successive attempts to resolve wrongs has felt.

:50:15. > :50:18.-- felt. It has not been so because Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots

:50:19. > :50:24.get along, they do. Just as much as anyone else does. They lived happily

:50:25. > :50:32.side-by-side and there was ` time, a generation and a half ago where

:50:33. > :50:38.Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots use the same bars and cafes, they

:50:39. > :50:46.played sports together. MA coexisted in harmony, and the same villages.

:50:47. > :50:51.-- and they coexisted. A generation and a half down the line, that is

:50:52. > :50:58.beginning to change, sadly. Because now there is a generation of

:50:59. > :51:05.children, some of the children of Turkish Cypriots and some of Greek

:51:06. > :51:08.Cypriots who have never known the other side, who has never spoken to

:51:09. > :51:18.Turkish or Greek. You have never shared each other's cultures, Lizaad

:51:19. > :51:19.very similar. I will come to Famagusta, I am trying to sdt this

:51:20. > :51:40.in context. I have been visited in workhng on

:51:41. > :51:49.the Cyprus problem since 1983 when I first came into this house. There is

:51:50. > :51:59.an opportunity, a window of opportunity now. The now le`der of

:52:00. > :52:08.Northern Cyprus used to be the mayor... The reason that is

:52:09. > :52:15.important is because while dveryone else was fighting and not gdtting

:52:16. > :52:24.along, the two got together in the dead of the night and land something

:52:25. > :52:30.for the whole country. Becatse you cannot have two sewage systdms for

:52:31. > :52:36.one place. They even plan to the road system so that one day looking

:52:37. > :52:43.down the road when there'll be a settlement, the roads with join up.

:52:44. > :52:47.And eight what does. -- and they would. I do not believe the man who

:52:48. > :52:52.was capable of that degree of foresight and cooperation is not

:52:53. > :52:59.capable of reaching a deal the current president of the Republic of

:53:00. > :53:04.Cyprus. It can happen and it should happen. In the interest of the piece

:53:05. > :53:11.of all of the Middle East and the whole of Europe it must happen. For

:53:12. > :53:20.it to happen, unfortunately, Turkey has got to agree. Recently, I have

:53:21. > :53:24.seen the wealthy Matt put ott in Turkey. For very obvious re`sons. We

:53:25. > :53:28.need Turkey, they are taking thousands and thousands of refugees

:53:29. > :53:33.from Syria and they're lookhng at going back for help. The idda that

:53:34. > :53:39.you can fast track Turkey into the European Union without settling the

:53:40. > :53:49.Cyprus problem is a nonstarter. It simply is a redline or should I say

:53:50. > :53:56.Greenland. -- green line. Wd have to, my honourable friend zone both

:53:57. > :54:01.benches have to use their bdst endeavors to seek to make stre that

:54:02. > :54:06.Turkey comes to the negotiation table and does the Dell. Yes, the

:54:07. > :54:10.honourable lady was right to say that without the settlement of the

:54:11. > :54:14.property issues there will be no settlement. Without the rights of

:54:15. > :54:22.the freedom of movement, thdre will be no settlement. Without hdr mobile

:54:23. > :54:32.of Turkish troops from northern Cyprus there will be no settlement.

:54:33. > :54:41.-- removal. Imagine if we h`d said, after the war, we're to keep troops

:54:42. > :54:46.there, how would that Phil? Why should the Cypriots, Greek `nd

:54:47. > :54:52.Turkish, why should they settle For the presence of foreign troops, one

:54:53. > :54:58.for Drupal on their land without invitation. Feticide invitation that

:54:59. > :55:04.is a different matter. I believe the Greek troops and the Turkish troops

:55:05. > :55:08.have to lead the Army. The risk gets harder, the property is difficult

:55:09. > :55:17.because most of the land is built on who owns those houses or who owns

:55:18. > :55:23.the land. It is not going to be easy, it will take money and time.

:55:24. > :55:31.But it has to have been. Thd bottom line is by communal, by zon`l

:55:32. > :55:33.configuration. It is achiev`ble We are with you and we will st`y with

:55:34. > :55:44.you for as long as it takes. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker, I

:55:45. > :55:48.too would join with others hn congratulating my Honorable friend,

:55:49. > :55:54.not only in securing this ddbate but in his excellent leadership of the

:55:55. > :56:00.dedication which visit to Cxprus a few days ago. For me it was my first

:56:01. > :56:10.visit, not just to Famagust` but to Cyprus itself. It is a beautiful

:56:11. > :56:16.island, the beach at Famagusta, I give weight to my Honorable friend.

:56:17. > :56:21.Does he not believe that Cornwell comes above this place? No, I am

:56:22. > :56:28.afraid I cannot agree of my Honorable friend as I am sure she

:56:29. > :56:33.would anticipate. Madam Deptty Speaker as always in countrhes where

:56:34. > :56:38.there is conflict and divishon. Is the ordinary people who suffer. We

:56:39. > :56:46.have the privilege of meeting a number of those over the last few

:56:47. > :56:49.days. Those who suffer what is already being described by ly

:56:50. > :56:56.Honorable friend from South and having witnessed the desecr`tion of

:56:57. > :57:02.their churches and the vand`lism of their graveyards, leaves a permanent

:57:03. > :57:06.scar on them. We must do all we can to retrieve that situation. It is

:57:07. > :57:11.not just of course damaging to those individuals what it is also damaging

:57:12. > :57:17.to the heritage and culture of the Cypriot island and people

:57:18. > :57:20.themselves. I will not detahn the House unnecessarily because my

:57:21. > :57:25.Honorable friend from South and is focused on the point about the

:57:26. > :57:30.committee of missing people that I wanted to highlight. It was the

:57:31. > :57:40.second time I have witnessed visiting a similar place th`t we

:57:41. > :57:44.visited on Friday when we s`w the bones and DNA. My Honorable friend

:57:45. > :57:48.from back and am intervened earlier and it was with him that I visited

:57:49. > :57:54.similar work being done with Bosnia this time last year, it is

:57:55. > :57:59.harrowing, and the meticulots work of those involved in it desdrves

:58:00. > :58:03.recognition. As my Honorabld friend from South and pointed out, very

:58:04. > :58:06.modest resources are needed to maintain and enhance this work, I

:58:07. > :58:14.would hope that the governmdnt would look favorably on that requdst.

:58:15. > :58:20.Indeed, it need not necessarily be taxpayer's money, it can be

:58:21. > :58:26.donations in kind from the private sector, I am sure if they work was

:58:27. > :58:35.highlighted to a greater extent donations would be forthcomhng. The

:58:36. > :58:40.other point I think that me`nt a great deal to me was actually

:58:41. > :58:48.visiting the former airport, because it gives you a real, it highlights

:58:49. > :58:57.all the area is frozen in thme to play in terms of this, you lay

:58:58. > :59:08.recall that my Honorable frhend mentioned that the potential of

:59:09. > :59:13.using the goodwill of the Honorable friend and the digger is ond of the

:59:14. > :59:17.most expensive parts of the cave to try and find missing persons, that

:59:18. > :59:29.may be particularly useful hn-kind donation. He highlights exactly the

:59:30. > :59:33.point that I was seeking to meet. To a greater extent if we were to make

:59:34. > :59:38.known what is required, I al sure it donations would be forthcomhng.

:59:39. > :59:42.Returning to the airport, it gives you a real impression of behng

:59:43. > :59:52.frozen in time, as do the elpty and derelict buildings in Famagtsta I

:59:53. > :59:56.speak as someone that used to fly from the airport, I am that old I

:59:57. > :00:02.used to be on the beaches of Famagusta as a boy. It is actually

:00:03. > :00:09.crucially important that we get both areas functioning again, and in that

:00:10. > :00:15.respect I think the United Nations who have manned the green lhne for

:00:16. > :00:18.so long has done so well on it could well have been redeployed to help

:00:19. > :00:21.with Famagusta and open up the airport. I think that will be

:00:22. > :00:30.something to stop them doing the serenity which they are facdd with

:00:31. > :00:35.the last 40 years. I entirely agree, the island is heavily dependent on

:00:36. > :00:41.tourism, every opportunity to enhance that would have surdly been

:00:42. > :00:45.welcomed. Here and at the ahrport as elsewhere we saw bullet scarred

:00:46. > :00:54.buildings which are a const`nt reminder of what happens 41 years

:00:55. > :01:01.ago. Madam Deputy Speaker, what purpose does the continuation of

:01:02. > :01:05.this division serves? I would urge everything possible to encotrage

:01:06. > :01:14.support, the Cypriot people. I give way. Thank you very much. Cxprus is

:01:15. > :01:20.a fantastic country, it is ` fantastic country, the Turkhsh

:01:21. > :01:29.government continually is ignoring US security council resoluthons on

:01:30. > :01:33.these -- UN, can they see what the additional pressure is that the UK

:01:34. > :01:37.Government put on the Turkish government to put this disptte to an

:01:38. > :01:45.end with which is set his f`ctory to everyone? I would hope that it is

:01:46. > :01:50.the Minister who is going to enlighten us as to what addhtional

:01:51. > :01:54.help, support, and encouragdment can take place. It is entirely true that

:01:55. > :02:00.it is the Turkish government that have seemingly been the blockage to

:02:01. > :02:06.this for so many years. As ly Honorable friend said if yot minutes

:02:07. > :02:09.ago, if ever there was the possibility of a settlement, it did

:02:10. > :02:13.seem now that it is within our grasp, anything the British

:02:14. > :02:23.Government can do to help and achieve that must... I give way

:02:24. > :02:30.Would he not agree that there were in fact to midwives to this

:02:31. > :02:41.particular situation, one w`s Turkish, however, in 1974 rd-'s

:02:42. > :02:46.militarism was very much part of the destabilising the archbishop and

:02:47. > :02:50.introducing the military, fortunately for a short perhod of

:02:51. > :02:54.time, never the less one can have a bit to bit of sympathy for Turkey.

:02:55. > :03:03.So far in this debate it has been rather one-sided. Yes, of course it

:03:04. > :03:09.takes two parties, two to t`ngle as it were, it must be the willingness

:03:10. > :03:12.of both sides to come to an agreement, and concludes by urging

:03:13. > :03:15.it again the government to do everything, I think my Honorable

:03:16. > :03:22.friend is looking to intervdne just as I was concluding. Am grateful.

:03:23. > :03:27.While there is some history about Turkish troops invading the Alan,

:03:28. > :03:31.that was 36 years ago, it is time for them to go now. Even thd

:03:32. > :03:35.behaviour it, that we are followed by this directive forces he

:03:36. > :03:39.photographed us, saw our nales, and determined we were leaving `nd what

:03:40. > :03:46.we were doing shows that thd Turkish government have not really changed.

:03:47. > :03:52.Yes, there was a slightly shnister feel to some parts of our trip as a

:03:53. > :03:55.result of being followed and photographed by the Turkish

:03:56. > :03:59.authorities. I give way to the honourable gentleman. I do `pologise

:04:00. > :04:05.for not being here at the opening of the debate, I had other duthes

:04:06. > :04:12.elsewhere. I accept the points he made a few moments ago that for the

:04:13. > :04:16.first time in 41 years, a sdttlement looks closer than it has evdr been.

:04:17. > :04:19.In order for such a settlemdnt to take place, once he accept that

:04:20. > :04:24.there has to be some recognhtion on both sides that there have been

:04:25. > :04:32.feelings on both sides before anyone can move forward? Yes, of course as

:04:33. > :04:36.I mentioned in response to ly Honorable friend a few moments ago.

:04:37. > :04:42.There clearly have been feelings on both sides, it takes two to come

:04:43. > :04:47.together, and bring this situation to a conclusion. We are now within

:04:48. > :04:59.our grasp, we should do everything possible we can to achieve that

:05:00. > :05:05.Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker, let me begin by congratulating the

:05:06. > :05:09.Honorable member for Enfield, Southgate, and his core signatories

:05:10. > :05:16.for tabling this debate. Thd division of Cyprus for over 40 years

:05:17. > :05:25.is often referred to as a frozen conflict. The motion before us

:05:26. > :05:34.tonight gives some sense of how long this situation has lasted for. It

:05:35. > :05:36.talks of the UN resolutions, the high level agreements which had been

:05:37. > :05:44.reached, the efforts which have been made, and as the motion says, all of

:05:45. > :05:50.this effort is aimed at a comprehensive septal. A phr`se

:05:51. > :05:57.continually used, of the division of the island. The aim, as the motion

:05:58. > :06:01.again says, is for a by comlunal, by zonal, federation with political

:06:02. > :06:08.equality guaranteed for the whole population of the island. Yds? Madam

:06:09. > :06:13.Deputy Speaker I would like to put on record that although the conflict

:06:14. > :06:17.may have been frozen for a very long time, one of the reasons it was

:06:18. > :06:22.frozen was because the actions of so many United Nations troops on the

:06:23. > :06:29.green line stopping the conflict breaking out again, it may have been

:06:30. > :06:34.style, it may be boring, for those troops, but my goodness thex have

:06:35. > :06:40.actually stopped people dying. He makes a very good points, I suppose

:06:41. > :06:47.he is gently reminding us that the frozen conflict is better than on

:06:48. > :06:52.frozen conflict, the frozen nature of the conflict is perhaps `t its

:06:53. > :07:03.most graphic in the city of Famagusta. Where homes, hotdls,

:07:04. > :07:09.other buildings have been dormant for 40 years. Trapped in a specific

:07:10. > :07:16.moment in time. Buildings still standing, but devoid of the people,

:07:17. > :07:20.and the changes that give a city life year after year. Overgrown with

:07:21. > :07:25.vegetation, and gradually w`lking away. It is no accident that the

:07:26. > :07:31.term ghost town has been usdd to describe this, but before tonight

:07:32. > :07:37.and Internet's debate. It is of course, right that the city and its

:07:38. > :07:42.properties be returned to their rightful owners. And people left,

:07:43. > :07:47.they thought they would be `ble to return within days or perhaps

:07:48. > :07:54.weeks, they now find that they have had no access to their homes,

:07:55. > :07:59.businesses, and other places of real importance to them for over 40

:08:00. > :08:04.years. People lost their hotses land, money, access to placds of

:08:05. > :08:07.worship. It is no wonder th`t this enforced absence is a sourcd of such